DG Journal ClubNew
AUTHORS: T Murphy et al
Paediatr Anaesth. 2022 Feb
BACKGROUND Over recent years, a number of enhanced recovery programs have appeared in first, adult colorectal surgery, and subsequently many other adult surgical specialties. Increasing interest in this approach to perioperative management in children culminated in the recent development of the first enhanced recovery pathway for pediatric intestinal surgery, endorsed by Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Society (ERAS B.). In parallel, there has been increasing interest in the refinement of perioperative management of selected pediatric cardiac surgical patients, invariably referred to as ‘fast track’ management. Initiatives have largely focused on duration of post-operative ventilation rather than on a much wider range of perioperative interventions to optimize recovery and ensure timely discharge after surgery. In our institution, a ‘Level 1’ pediatric cardiac surgical center, we assembled a multidisciplinary team to design a comprehensive enhanced recovery pathway, based on ERASB. methodology, for selected cardiac surgical patients. After a lengthy period of planning, staff education and preparation we implemented the pathway at the end of November 2019.
METHODS We conducted a prospective audit of the perioperative management and outcomes of the first 88 patients managed according to this enhanced recovery pathway over a 25 month period in our institution.
RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 5.8 years (range 0.5 to 17.9) and the mean weight was 22.4 kg (range 6.6 to 57.2). 68 of the 88 were cardiopulmonary bypass cases. 54% of patients received all four defined intraoperative anesthetic interventions (intravenous paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, antiemetic if aged more than 4 years and use of a local anesthetic technique). 89% of patients met the target extubation time of six hours after administration of protamine. Median postoperative intensive care unit length of stay was 23.5hours (range 15.2 to 89.5). When compared to a historic control group this represented a 22% reduction in median Intensive Care Unit stay, although the total hospital length of stay remained unchanged. 83% of patients met the target hospital discharge target of the fifth postoperative day.
CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results suggest that enhanced recovery pathway implementation for selected pediatric cardiac surgical patients is feasible, with acceptable outcomes. They suggest areas for further development and the potential for wider implementation.
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