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New protocol improves outcomes in colorectal surgical patients

Enhanced recovery protocol shortens hospital stays, reduces patients' risk of complications and cuts costs up to $11,000 per procedure.

By Amy Wallace

July 24 (UPI) -- Researchers presented a new protocol they say standardizes and improves care of colorectal surgery patients, at the American College of Surgeons meeting.

The study was presented at the American College of Surgeons, or ACS, 2017 Quality and Patient Safety Conference July 23.

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The standardized care protocol, titled Enhanced Recovery After Colorectal Surgery, or ERACS, was found to reduce hospital stays by more than half, cut costs by up to $11,000 and reduces complications by more than one-third.

Researchers analyzed 246 patients using the protocol who underwent elective colorectal surgery at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago.

"We found that not only does our pathway not negatively impact their hospital length of stay, readmission rate, and complication rates, but that ERACS actually improves these outcomes," Dr. Deepa Bhat, a second-year surgery resident, said in a press release. "Our goal was to determine whether we could send patients home sooner after surgery without having to worry about increased complications or increased readmission rates."

Results showed that the length of hospital stay prior to implementation of ERACS was 5.65 days compared to 2.89 days after implementation of ERACS. The direct variable cost was $3,705 lower with ERACS and total hospitalization costs were reduced by up to $11,000 per patient, totaling about $1 million savings in a year.

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"Before the enhanced recovery pathway, each surgeon had their own way of doing things, such as when patients should start liquids or when they could be discharged home from the hospital," Bhat said.

"Now, care is standardized so that every patient experiences the same pre-, intra-, and postoperative protocol, which leads to better outcomes. The patient goes into surgery having a very clear idea of what they can expect, such as how their pain will be controlled, when they can start liquids, and what their expectations are for ambulation. By making patients active participants in their own care, they tend to do better."

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