Implementation of the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol for radical cystectomy patients: A single centre experience

Abstract

Purpose: The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for radical cystectomy aims to facilitate postoperative recovery and hasten a return to normal daily activities. This study aims to report on the perioperative outcomes of implementation of an ERAS protocol at a single Australian institution. Materials and Methods: We identified 73 patients with pT1–T4 bladder cancer who underwent open radical cystectomy at Western Health, Victoria between June 2016 and August 2021. A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was performed. Perioperative outcomes included length of hospital stay, nasogastric tube requirement and duration of postoperative ileus. Results: The median age was 74 years (interquartile range [IQR] 66–78) for the ERAS group and 70 years (IQR 65–78) for the pre-ERAS group patients. All patients in each group underwent ileal conduit formation. The median length of hospital stay was 7.0 days (IQR 7.0–9.3) for the ERAS group and 12.0 days (IQR 8.0–16.0) for the pre-ERAS group (p=0.003). Within the ERAS group, 25.0% had a postoperative ileus, and 25.0% had a nasogastric tube inserted, compared with 64.9% (p=0.001) and 45.9% (p=0.063) respectively within pre-ERAS group. The median bowel function recovery time, defined as duration from surgery to first bowel action, was 5.0 days (IQR 4.0–7.0) in the ERAS group and 7.5 days (IQR 5.0–8.5) in the pre-ERAS group (p=0.016). Conclusions: Implementation of an ERAS protocol is associated with a reduction in hospital length of stay, postoperative ileus and bowel function recovery time.

Keywords

• cystectomy
• enhanced recovery after surgery
• radical cystectomy
• urinary bladder neoplasms