Enhanced recovery protocols improve clinical outcomes before, during and after colorectal operations, Science Business reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. European nations have been using ERPs for several years, and they're beginning to gather momentum in the U.S.
2. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality created an ERP for colorectal procedures and is in the midst of rolling out the protocol.
3. The protocol is based off of guidelines from the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.
4. Researchers from the University of Cincinnati conducted a study comparing outcomes between 160 patients who underwent a colorectal procedure without an ERP and 146 patients who underwent a procedure with a protocol.
Researchers found that length of stay was two days shorter for patients in the protocol group. Those patients were also able to discontinue pain medication one day after surgery. Costs were lower for the protocol group as well, saving hospitals $1,717 per patient.
5. ERP adaptation has been thwarted because of concerns over the use of high-cost pharmaceuticals. However, researchers debunked that notion, per the findings regarding cost savings per patient.