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L͠]X5t^ 8'ט   (u׈         נX5t^ 8 A\*9 ׉IX5t^ 8 GׁׁrנX5t^ 8! p̿r9 ׉IX5t^ 8"GׁׁrנX5t^ 8# e̆u9 ׉IX5t^ 8$GׁׁrנX5t^ 8% #̰e9 ׉IX5t^ 8&Gׁׁr׈EX5t^ 8(׉E2ASERalert
November 2016 | Volume 1, Issue 1
ERAS for Hip
and Knee
(THA and TKA)
Arthroplasty –
A Need to Look
Beyond LOS
OFFICIAL
PUBLICATION OF
ERAS for Total
Joint Arthroplasty:
Past, Present and
Future
Enhanced
Recovery for
Orthopedic
Surgery
ERAS for Spine
Surgery: A New
Frontier
also in this issue
׉	 7cassandra://hQGeB72gCFHEmQ1I_slrR7gSzvqHW1Ndvuc1NzS6ErY$` X5t^ 8)X5t^ 8((בCט   (u׉׉	 7cassandra://_70uLGgVUYWsXfaVnbyzjXxVLxEj-aqd_YocJdMEHx4 `׉	 7cassandra://Kwa21KzYW8aJM0sIcz4fB6rGbjJG5wFzRsHT8UeSD5Mk`s׉	 7cassandra://EAuDj9yA0PCp2Wte71oK2POPQ2cLUDmLMPMIY3PfRF8%` ׉	 7cassandra://EVkTyWo8TfVphLG8ny6v71uVFdUYSdVOGuC7h9njALk i4͠]X5u^ 8*ט  (u׉׉	 7cassandra://f77hjDOsDtm3U0KtHlnvMVlhbmOJKl1dozY0ZGXMK5o `׉	 7cassandra://qPyfYRYwmmFcNaJLhPQeGxeun8ZoIoJMTcd-nh-2uow_a`s׉	 7cassandra://yJfaRwiIa7qRqAlrpGMGjs53qY4XFZp1IWsl-9kL7JEZ` ׉	 7cassandra://E7eUcBEAR04uKP3Iz76mGamkUra-Fz1X7Rb5eWjMj_8 L~͠]X5u^ 8+נX5w^ 8e 2N9ׁHhttp://aserhq.orgׁׁЈנX5w^ 8c Kd9ׁHmailto:info@aserhq.orgׁׁЈנX5w^ 8b p9ׁH &mailto:tong.gan@stonybrookmedicine.eduׁׁЈ׉EANNUAL CONGRESS OF
ENHANCED RECOVERY AND
PERIOPERATIVE MEDICINE
APRIL 27TH
-29TH
, 2017
HYATT REGENCY WASHINGTON
ON CAPITOL HILL
400 NEW JERSEY AVE NW,
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001
For more information please
visit www.aserhq.org
2
ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
2017
׉	 7cassandra://EAuDj9yA0PCp2Wte71oK2POPQ2cLUDmLMPMIY3PfRF8%` X5u^ 8,׉EPresident’s Message
By Tong J (TJ) Gan, MD, MHS, FRCA, President
Board of Directors
I
t is my great pleasure to announce
the inaugural issue of the ASER
Newsletter. Founded in 2014,
ASER is a multi-specialty nonprofit
organization with an international
membership and is dedicated to the
practice of enhanced recovery in the
perioperative patient through education
and research. We are experiencing a
period of tremendous expansion and
growth, as is evidenced by the great
interest to implement the enhanced
recovery pathway in hospitals around
the country.
The ASER Mission is to advance the
practice of perioperative enhanced
recovery and to contribute to its
growth and influences, by fostering
and encouraging research, education,
public policies, programs and scientific
progress.
We have achieved much over the past
2 years, including:
• Annual ASER/EBPOM Congress
• ASER website
• ASER manual of Enhanced
Recovery for Major Abdominopelvic
Surgery
• Enhanced Recovery Implementation
Guide
• Regional Leadership forums
• Perioperative Medicine as the official
society journal
This newsletter aims to share
information, best practices, sample
protocols and members’ experiences
in implementing enhanced recovery
pathways. It serves as a forum for
communication of the many activities of
the society.
I would like to thank Dr. Thomas
Hopkins, Lyla Hance and their
committee for editing the newsletter
and those who generously donated
their time to contribute to this edition.
We want this newsletter to be valuable
for you, so please share your feedback
and suggestions to help us improve.
Please forward it to friends and
colleagues who you think will benefit
from this newsletter. n
Enjoy reading.
Tong J (TJ) Gan, MD, MHS, FRCA
President
American Society for Enhanced
Recovery
Professor and Chairman
Department of Anesthesiology
Stony Brook University
tong.gan@stonybrookmedicine.edu
Officers
President
Tong J (TJ) Gan, MD, MHS, FRCA
President-Elect
Julie Thacker, MD
Vice-President
Timothy Miller MB, ChB, FRCA
Treasurer
Roy Soto, MD
Secretary
Stefan D. Holubar MD, MS, FACS, FASCRS
Directors
Keith A. (Tony) Jones, MD
Anthony Senagore, MD
Maxime Cannesson, MD, PhD
Terrence Loftus, MD, MBA, FACS
Andrew Shaw MB, FRCA, FFICM, FCCM
Desiree Chappel, CRNA
Newsletter Committee
Thomas Hopkins, MD: Chair
Lyla Hance, MPH: Co-Chair
Jeffrey Huang, MD
Uday Jain, MD, PhD
Amy McCutchan, MD
Asha Naik, FRCA
Christina Solis, MHA
Matthias Stopfkuchen-Evans, MD
About ASER
ASER is a nonprofit organization with an international
membership, which is dedicated to thepractice
of enhanced recovery in the perioperative patient
through education and research. ASER’s mission is
to advance the practice of perioperative enhanced
recovery, to contribute to its growth and influences,
by fostering and encouraging research, education,
public policies, programs and scientific progress.
Administrative Office
American Society for Enhanced Recovery
6737 W Washington St. | Ste. 4210
Milwaukee, WI 53214
414-389-8610 |
info@aserhq.org
ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
3
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TKA) Arthroplasty – A Need
To Look Beyond LOS
By Henrik Kehlet, Prof. MD, PhD
E
RAS programs in total joint
arthroplasty have been
introduced worldwide in many
centers with documented
success and reduced length of
stay (LOS) and morbidity. However,
despite the achieved success,
several challenges lie ahead. First of
all “what is the optimal LOS?”, since
there is a lack of documentation on
the economic and safety aspects of
same-day discharge vs next day in
a general THA and TKA population
vs the proportion of selected suitable
patients. Although overall morbidity is
reduced by ERAS, further studies on
the relative importance of conventional
risk factors needs to be clarified, since
recent data question the relevance
from standard risk assessment
within traditional care. Still, a major
problem is the need to improve
pain management after discharge in
relation to patient activity and optimal
rehabilitation. In this context, further
4
The optimal
technique of
rehabilitation
needs
evaluation...
studies are required to preoperatively
predict high-pain responders in
subpopulations such as pain
catastrophizers, preoperative opioid
users and other pain “sensitized”
patients. Also, more data are required
on the otherwise documented risk of
postoperative delirium especially with
opioid-based pain management, but
where a fully implemented opioidsparing
ERAS program may almost
eliminate this problem. Although it
is well-established that preoperative
anemia should be diagnosed
and treated, more focus on postdischarge
anemia should be made,
since it may impair rehabilitation and
increase risk of organ dysfunction,
but so far with sparse available
data. Further data are required on
thromboembolic complications and
need for prophylaxis, since early
mobilization with ERAS may reduce
the risk. Importantly, readmissions
and discharge destination must be
clarified due to a huge discrepancy
between individual institutions and
countries and where readmission to
“own institution” is insufficient because
some patients may be readmitted
to other institutions. Also, discharge
destination, which has major
economic implications, needs further
evaluation, since discharge to a
“nursing care facility” or “rehabilitation”
institution is variable, and in some
ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
feature
׉	 7cassandra://FEOhXsAckFaqe26jEM1JiryUztL3oqV9dvpCf0vgVoQ` X5t^ 8 ׉Ecountries standard practice is
discharge to home instead.
The optimal technique of rehabilitation
needs evaluation, since present
data even with immediate strength
training have been disappointing and
where all data have documented
a reduction of muscle function for
several weeks postoperatively.
Although patient-reported outcomes
are fashionable and important,
further studies to compare these with
objectively measured function and
activity are required, since initial data
are disappointing and showing a gap
between the positive patient-reported
outcomes vs the rather disappointing
objective recovery data. Finally, a
very large number of publications
on ERAS cohorts often has an
insufficient interpretation compared
with global literature, and a lack of
balanced discussion on international
experiences and consequences in
different health care systems.
In summary, despite an obvious
success of ERAS in THA and THA to
reduce LOS and morbidity, several
challenges lie ahead to improve postdischarge
recovery. n
References
Aasvang EK, Luna IE, Kehlet H. Challenges in
postdischarge function and recovery: the case of fasttrack
hip and knee arthroplasty. Br J Anaesth 2015;
115:861-866.Cyriac J, Garson L, Schwarzkopf R, Ahn
K, Rinehart J, Vakharia S, Cannesson M, Kain Z. Total
joint replacement perioperative surgical home program:
2-year follow-up. Anesth Analg 2016; 123:51-62.
Artz N, Elvers KT, Lowe CM, Sackley C, Jepson P,
Beswick AD. Effectiveness of physiotherapy exercise
following total knee replacement: systematic review
and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2015;
16:15.
Cyriac J, Garson L, Schwarzkopf R, Ahn K, Rinehart
J, Vakharia S, Cannesson M, Kain Z. Total joint
replacement perioperative surgical home program:
2-year follow-up. Anesth Analg 2016; 123:5162.
Fragiadakis
GK, Gaudilliere B, Ganio EA, Aghaeepour
N, Tingle M, Nolan GP, Angst MS. Patient-specific
immune states before surgery are strong correlates of
surgical recovery. Anesthesiology 2015; 123:12411255.
Hossain
FS, Konan S, Patel S, Rodriguez-Merchan
EC, Haddad FS. The assessment of outcome after
total knee arthroplasty: are we there yet? Bone Joint J
2015; 97-B:3-9.
Jans O, Kehlet H. Postoperative orthostatic
intolerance: a common perioperative problem with few
available solutions. Can J Anaesth 2016 (Epub).
Jorgensen CC, Petersen MA, Kehlet H. Preoperative
prediction of potentially preventable morbidity after
fast-track hip and knee arthroplasty: a detailed
descriptive cohort study. BMJ Open 2016;
6:e009813.
Kehlet H, Jorgensen CC. Rapid Recovery After
Hip and Knee Arthroplasty--A Transatlantic Gap? J
Arthroplasty 2015; 30:2380.
Kehlet H, Jorgensen CC. Advancing surgical
outcomes research and quality improvement within
an enhanced recovery program framework. Ann Surg
2016; 264:237-238.
Kjellberg J, Kehlet H. A nationwide analysis of
socioeconomic outcomes after hip and knee
replacement. Dan Med J 2016; 63:A5257.Pitter
FT, Jorgensen CC, Lindberg-Larsen M, Kehlet H.
Postoperative morbidity and discharge destinations
after fast-track hip and knee arthroplasty in patients
older than 85 years. Anesth Analg 2016; 122:18071815.
Pitter
FT, Jorgensen CC, Lindberg-Larsen M, Kehlet
H. Postoperative morbidity and discharge destinations
after fast-track hip and knee arthroplasty in patients
older than 85 years. Anesth Analg 2016; 122:18071815.
Thienpont
E, Lavand’homme P, Kehlet H. The
constraints on day-case total knee arthroplasty: the
fastest fast track. Bone Joint J 2015; 97-B:40-44.
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ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
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5
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Arthroplasty: Past, Present
and Future
By Ellen M. Soffin, MD, PhD; Alana E. Sigmund, MD, FHM &
Chad M. Craig, MD, FACP
I
n the companion article in this edition, we speculate whether Enhanced Recovery After
Surgery (ERAS) protocols can be usefully applied to patients undergoing spine surgery.
If
ERAS for spine represents an emerging concept in orthopedic surgery, ERAS for total joint
arthroplasty (TJA) represents the proof of concept. In contrast to spine surgery, elective
hip and knee arthroplasty are high-volume, highly standardized surgical procedures typically
performed in medically optimized patients. These conditions facilitate the implementation of
clinical pathways or fast-track programs which lead directly to reductions in length of stay and
improved outcomes.
For more than 30 years, there has been compelling evidence to support the use of
packages of care to improve recovery after TJA. At Hospital for Special Surgery, Sharrock
et al. transformed the care of our TJA patients by incorporating standardized perioperative
interventions: universal receipt of epidural anesthesia, invasive goal-directed hemodynamic
monitoring, epidural analgesia, pulse oximetry, and post-operative supplemental oxygen, with
ICU-level of care for high-risk patients.1
These changes effected a reduction in mortality after
total knee arthroplasty from 0.44% to 0.07% over a 10-year period. Importantly, there were no
major changes in surgical technique over this interval, suggesting the bundle of interventions
led to improved outcomes.
More modern fast track protocols reliably demonstrate cost savings and reductions in lengthof-stay
– often with discharge to home and without increased complications or readmission.2-6
.
The Hospital for Special Surgery clinical pathways for total hip or knee arthroplasty feature
pre-operative patient education and discharge planning, pre-emptive analgesia, post-operative
nausea and vomiting prophylaxis,
regional analgesia techniques, and
early mobilization. Patients following
these pathways achieve reduced
length of stay, superior pain control,
and shortened time to functional
recovery.7-9
Finally, in a recent study of patients
undergoing primary total hip
arthroplasty, comparing patients in
an enhanced recovery program to
patients in the hospital’s standardcare
program, the enhanced recovery
group showed a decreased length of
stay of 1.5 days with no increase in
post-operative complications.10
program, patients underwent pre6
operative
assessment by a physical
therapist, and were educated about
the planned day of discharge, wound
care and physical therapy, They
also received necessary equipment
prior to admission, received spinal
anesthesia, and also participated in
early mobilization. A similar, although
smaller, study in total knee arthroplasty
showed similar results.11
In this
While package of care studies in TJA
show benefit for patients, they also
have revealed that the two major
approaches to standardized care in
TJA, ERAS and clinical pathways,
have basic differences in form and
content. In contrast to ERAS in other
surgical subspecialties, the majority
of published pathways for TJA
comprise intraoperative anesthesia,
post-operative analgesia, and early
mobilization as the basis of the
care trajectory. Standardized ERAS
components, including pre-operative
education and nutritional optimization,
goal directed fluid therapy (GDFT)
and audit are often conspicuous
by their absence in TJA. A recent
review of ERAS for TJA suggests
that despite the established success
of clinical pathways, there remain
major opportunities to apply ERAS
principles to patients undergoing
elective joint replacement.12
Although
ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
׉	 7cassandra://i9prQMVnkZQR5ln-P1MsXzHzLygORyOx0PtYy5-xass` X5t^ 8"׉E...high dose
steroids reduced
the amount of
patient-reported
pain within the
first 1-2 days after
both hip and knee
arthroplasty.
there is a large body of evidence to guide decision making in
constructing pathways of care, there are equally large gaps in
knowledge which suggest avenues for future work.
Many ERAS interventions are resource-intensive, so
understanding which patients benefit from which components
is of primary importance. The literature suggests that
education programs could be most effective for anxious or
socially isolated patients,13
although it remains to be seen
if standardizing the content and method of delivery would
have a positive effect for all patients. Likewise, the optimal
analgesic regimen has yet to be determined, despite an
abundance of choice: epidural, peripheral nerve block or
catheter, local infiltration analgesia, and oral/intravenous
multimodal agents all show analgesic efficacy and are opioidsparing
after TJA. Ultimately, these decisions might have to
be made according to institutional practice and capability.
The risk-to-benefit balance of preoperative carbohydrate
loading has yet to be established in TJA and the role of
goal-directed fluid therapy is unclear – and may turn out to
be of lesser importance compared to colorectal surgery. The
concept of auditing compliance and outcomes, and using
institution-specific data to refine pathway components, is
currently lacking in TJA clinical pathway care. Additionally,
some have argued for a shift of clinical and research efforts
from current construction of TJA ERAS pathways, to more
broad peri-operative strategies to improve post-discharge
function, rehabilitation potential, and global recovery, areas
that may prove equally as important to patient outcomes.14
Recent arthroplasty research has focused on improving
global recovery through avoiding common postASER
ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
Mallinckrodt, the “M” brand mark and the Mallinckrodt
Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company.
© 2015 Mallinckrodt. June 2015
operative complications such as anemia and pain. In two
separate studies, consecutive patients were enrolled in a
multidisciplinary hemoglobin management program that
involved pre-operative anemia work-up and management.
Both studies were able to show reduced post-operative
transfusion rates when compared with a historical cohort.15,16
In order to minimize post-operative pain and nausea, two
randomized, placebo-controlled trials were conducted to
assess the role of high-dose steroids administered during hip
and knee arthroplasty. Although each study enrolled fewer
than 100 patients, high dose steroids reduced the amount of
patient-reported pain within the first 1-2 days after both hip
and knee arthroplasty.17,18
Because of the safety and efficacy of clinical pathways in
TJA, we are increasingly offering surgery to patients who
probably would have been denied surgery in the past. It
has become routine to perform joint replacement for the
elderly, morbidly obese, high ASA Physical Status, and/or
chronic opioid dependent patient. Demand for same-day
or same-admission bilateral TJA is also increasing. These
changing patterns require increasingly creative strategies to
understand and implement best practice. It may be the right
time to standardize language in order to facilitate research
and practice. “Clinical pathway”, “ERAS”, “Perioperative
Surgical Home” and “Fast Track” are used interchangeably in
SEEING COMPLEXITY
IN A NEW LIGHT.
For nearly 150 years, Mallinckrodt has made
complex scientific problems manageable,
developing valuable diagnostic tools and
treatments for patients who need them.
We view challenges as opportunities.
See how at Mallinckrodt.com
7
׉	 7cassandra://OhaUAMHdid3S-SgjDsMLhbELTin3AXIMkSmx1iEsISM` X5v^ 84X5t^ 8"(בCט   (u׉׉	 7cassandra://2iJB63Rxy-9FpRg853CGISEOPbn-B1L1zwHB72VJm44 K`׉	 7cassandra://Rht_zyJHYly3jI2CKlYBQjEHvberVLuhkbCJ47QLOLEeQ`s׉	 7cassandra://ohVMIHs3Xf19-K-PFpbDgj89h8TnYJgElKZmKLZn9_0 7` ׉	 7cassandra://yEZ5zHmZwKrni-XfgzSBJbGnF6WtDbWdO8zno6QjG_U w+͠]X5v^ 87ט  (u׉׉	 7cassandra://IKJGI_Wt-wKfuQ-LBedu8713DDT1ppLe9DzdKzyhnV4 <z` ׉	 7cassandra://7xfSWeZJQpW4pUaSU1m0m5TYuf1l_JM7F8puPc4EPNcp`s׉	 7cassandra://d20INqryDuz1w2rkw4c2jL8k9ZY4ucMX_Gdeco3UaoY#` ׉	 7cassandra://_vf9kN64-35OmJlJkSheNsVheWVnaWfeKUazrFS23Sk͖F$D͠]X5v^ 88נX5v^ 85 >md9 ׉IX5v^ 86GׁׁrנX5w^ 8m L9ׁHhttp://edwards.comׁׁЈנX5w^ 8l v!9ׁHhttp://Edwards.com/ESR1ׁׁЈ׉Ethe literature, and many terms lack a definition. In addition to
standard language, we advocate that a principal goal should
be a standardized ERAS pathway for TJA based on the best
available evidence, and including audit. We submit that this
process is most effective when it occurs at the Society level
with adoption of consensus guidelines, as has been the case
for ERAS in other surgical subspecialties. n
References
1. Sharrock NE, Cazan MG, Hargett MJ, Williams-Russo P, Wilson PD Jr: Changes in
mortality after total hip and knee arthroplasty over a ten-year period. Anesth Analg
1995; 80(2):242-8.
2. Duncan CM, Hall Long K, Warner DO, Hebl JR: The economic implications of a
multimodal analgesic regimen combined with minimally invasive orthopedic surgery: a
comparative cost study. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2009; 34(4):301-7.
3. Duncan CM, Moeschler SM, Horlocker TT, Hanssen AD, Hebl JR: A self-paired
comparison of perioperative outcomes before and after implementation of a clinical
pathway in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2013;
38(6):533-8.
4. Hebl JR, Kopp SL, Ali MH, Horlocker TT, Dilger JA, Lennon RL, Williams BA, Hanssen
AD, Pagnano MW: A comprehensive anesthesia protocol that emphasized peripheral
nerve blockade for total knee and total hip arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2005;
87 Suppl 2:63-71.
5. Hebl JR, Dilger JA, Byer DE, Kopp SL, Stevens SR, Pagnano MW, Hanssen AD,
Horlocker TT: A pre-emptive multimodal pathway featuring peripheral nerve block
improves perioperative outcomes after major orthopedic surgery. Reg Anaesth Pain
Med 2008; 33(6):510-517.
6. Sutton JC, Antoniou J, Epure LM, Huk OL, Zukor DJ, Bergeron S: Hospital Discharge
within 2 Days Following Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty Does Not Increase MajorComplication
and Readmission Rates. J Bone and Joint Surg Am 2016;98;1419-28.
7. Ayalon O, Liu S, Flics S, Cahill J, Juliano K, Cornell CN: A multimodal clinical pathway
can reduce length of stay after total knee arthroplasty. HSS J 2011; 7(1):9-15.
Learn more about Pacira & ASER’s
Partnership Campaign to Combat
the Opiod Epidemic, on page 15
8. Gulotta LV, Padgett DE, Sculco TP, Urban M, Lyman S, Nestor BJ: Fast track
THR: One hospital’s experience with a 2-day length of stay protocol for total hip
replacement. HSS J 2011; 7(3):223-8.
9. Duggal S, Flics S, Cornell CN: Intra-articular analgesia and discharge to home
enhance recovery following total knee replacement. HSS J 2015; 11(1):56-64.
10. Maempel J, Clement N, Ballantyne J, Dunstsan E: Enhanced Recovery Programmes
After Total Hip Arthroplasty can Result in Reduced Length of Hospital Stay Without
Compromising Functional Outcome Bone Joint J 2016; 98-B:475-482.
11. Maempel J, Walmsley P: Enhanced Recovery Programmes Can Reduce Length of
Stay After Total Knee Replacement Without Sacrificing Functional Outcome at One
Year. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2015; 97:563-567.
12. Soffin EM, YaDeau JT: Enhanced recovery after surgery for primary hip and knee
arthroplasty: A review of the evidence. BJA 2016; in press.
13. McDonald S, Page MJ, Beringer K, Wasiak J, Sprowson A: Preoperative education
for hip or knee replacement. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014; 13(5).
14. Aasvang E, Luna I, Kehlet H: Challenges in postdicharge function and recovery: the
case of fast-track hip and knee arthroplasty. Br J Anaesth.2015; 115(6): 861-6.
15. Holt J, Miller B, Callaghan J, Clark C, Willenborg M, Noiseux N: Minimizing Blood
Transfusion in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Through a Multimodal Approach. J
Arthroplasty 2016; 31: 378-382.
16. Kopandis P, Hardidge A, McNicol L, Tay S, McCall P, Weinberg L: Perioperative Blood
Management Programme Reduces the Use of Allogenic Blood Transfusion in Patients
Undergoing Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. J Orthop Surg Res 2016; 11:28.
17. Lunn T, Kirstensen B, Andersen L, Husted H, Otte KS, Gaarn-Larsen L, Kehlet H:
Effect of high-dose preoperative methylprednisolone on pain recovery after total knee
arthroplasty: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Br J Anaesth 2011; 106(2):230238.
18.
Lunn T, Andersen L, Kirstensen B, Husted H, Otte KS, Gaarn-Larsen L, Bandholm T,
Ladelund S, Kehlet H: Effect of high-dose preoperative methylprednisone on recovery
after total hip arthroplasty: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Br J Anaesth 2012;
110(1):66-73.
Used in more than
2 MILLION PATIENTS
since 2012
Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is pleased to support the American Society for Enhanced Recovery
Reference: Data on fi le. Parsippany, NJ: Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; May 2016.
For full Prescribing Information, please visit www.EXPAREL.com or call 1-855-RX-EXPAREL (793-9727).
©2016 Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Parsippany, NJ 07054
PP-EX-US-2048
10/16
8
ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
׉	 7cassandra://ohVMIHs3Xf19-K-PFpbDgj89h8TnYJgElKZmKLZn9_0 7` X5v^ 89׉EYOU
can reduce
post-surgical
complications
by
32%
1
in your moderate
to high-risk
patients.
A large body of evidence demonstrates that
hemodynamic optimization through Perioperative
Goal-Directed Therapy (PGDT), utilizing dynamic
parameters which are informative in determining
fluid responsiveness, has been shown to reduce
post-surgical complications.1-4
randomized controlled trials and
meta-analyses confirmed reduction of risk for AKI,
anastomotic leaks, pneumonia, SSI and UTI.1-4
When evidence inspires action, Edwards
Lifesciences Enhanced Surgical Recovery
Program can help you implement PGDT. Your
vision for reducing post-surgical complications
can be realized in a single procedure, or as part
of a larger quality improvement initiative.
Edwards.com/ESR1
References:
1. Grocott et al. Perioperative increase in global blood flow to explicit defined goals and outcomes after surgery: a Cochrane systematic
review. Br J Anaesth 2013
2. Giglio MT, Marucci M, Testini M, Brienza N. Goal-directed haemodynamic therapy and gastrointestinal complications in major surgery:
a meta-analysisof randomized controlled trials. Br J Anaesth 2009; 103: 637–46
3. Dalfino L, Giglio MT, Puntillo F, Marucci M, Brienza N. Haemodynamic goal-directed therapy and postoperative infections: earlier is better.
A systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care 2011; 15: R154
4. Corcoran T et al. Perioperative Fluid Management Strategies in Major Surgery: A Stratified Meta-Analysis. Anesthesia – Analgesia 2012
Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo and Enhanced Surgical Recovery Program are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences
Corporation or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
© 2014 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All rights reserved. AR11710
Edwards Lifesciences | edwards.com
One Edwards Way | Irvine, California 92614 USA
Switzerland | Japan | China | Brazil | Australia | India
׉	 7cassandra://d20INqryDuz1w2rkw4c2jL8k9ZY4ucMX_Gdeco3UaoY#` X5v^ 8:X5v^ 89(בCט   (u׉׉	 7cassandra://cYT2IDSHLT5f2N9BYxG1gmM5bp99274Ykh1WCj0G_Fg  `׉	 7cassandra://5a7R0n2nIio9WDuCA3ZfnJYPyRcW-Bm-LMDerM8Oe5Upd`s׉	 7cassandra://EsC-iVTijdBzuDzmPe2AUuvkZNky6Y-iNXKzTUFIxZ8&A` ׉	 7cassandra://x_t0yju0wLM4EB-GRZL2VOTpNG0ZB5o9zqSZkHuDx8A ͠]X5v^ 8<ט  (u׉׉	 7cassandra://_VBMBFCYdM5dS0Mg1CHQqCy8QCDqTahxkNa6lVDsio8 Ҍ`׉	 7cassandra://27iHL0TS_Ov8ZzD5yoOz8URf3-G8DeFio1WLI2o25Vwl`s׉	 7cassandra://UDjSwgBmNnnFZkynKEirfVrG76u1OIRZCnuOYunK4HA` ׉	 7cassandra://iUzcyhJx7HNigSOxPAmxco92Ed2QC9bXp8UfTFrqIf4͛͠]X5v^ 8=נX5v^ 8; eA9׉H Chttps://www.jointcommission.org/total_hip__total_knee_replacement_/GׁׁrנX5w^ 8u 2N9ׁHhttp://aserhq.orgׁׁЈנX5w^ 8t g9ׁH ,http://jointcommission.org/total_hip__total_ׁׁЈ׉EValuable insight
to help you
guide volume
administration.
Clarity gives you the control to
make more informed decisions.
ClearSight Noninvasive System
CO, SV, SVV, SVR, cBP*
FloTrac Minimally-Invasive System
CO, SV, SVV, SVR
Swan-Ganz System
CCO, RVEDV, RVEF, SvO2
Edwards Lifesciences’ range of hemodynamic monitoring
solutions provides key flow parameters shown to be more
informative in determining fluid responsiveness than
pressure-based parameters.1
Each offers continuous information which may be used in
Perioperative Goal-Directed Therapy (PGDT) to hemodynamically
optimize your moderate to high-risk surgery patients.
The Edwards Enhanced Surgical Recovery Program can
help you implement PGDT today. PGDT can help ensure your
patients are consistently maintained in the optimal volume range.
Know more. Know now. To see how you can
individualize therapy under more conditions, visit
Edwards.com/ESRsolutions
1. Michard F, Biais M. Rational fluid management: dissecting facts from fiction. Br J Anaesth 2012
* Continuous Blood Pressure
For professional use. CAUTION: Federal (United States) law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. See instructions
for use for full prescribing information, including indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions and adverse events.
Edwards Lifesciences devices placed on the European market, meet the essential requirements referred to in Article 3 of the Medical Device
Directive 93/42/EEC, and bear the CE marking of conformity.
Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, ClearSight, Enhanced Surgical Recovery Program, FloTrac and Swan-Ganz are
trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
© 2014 Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All rights reserved. AR11787
Edwards Lifesciences | edwards.com
One Edwards Way | Irvine, California 92614 USA
Switzerland | Japan | China | Brazil | Australia | India
׉	 7cassandra://EsC-iVTijdBzuDzmPe2AUuvkZNky6Y-iNXKzTUFIxZ8&A` X5t^ 8$׉EEnhanced Recovery for
Orthopedic Surgery
By Arman Dagal MD, FRCA; Chad M. Craig, MD, FACP &
Ruchir Gupta, MD
T
otal hip and knee replacements amount to nearly 1,000,000 surgical procedures
annually in the United States and are expected to triple in volume by 2030. It is
estimated that 7 million people are currently leaving with total hip or knee replacement
in the United States alone. In addition to the joint replacement, spine surgery is
amongst the costliest procedures in U.S. Between 1998 to 2008 the number of spinal fusion
procedures increased by 137%. The spine care (direct and indirect) cost around $100 billion
annually in the U.S. alone. 1
remain variable across institutions.2
Bundled Care and Health Care Delivery.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) was created by the Affordable
Care Act to tests innovative payment and service delivery models that have the potential to
reduce Medicare, Medicaid, or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expenditures while
preserving or enhancing the quality of care for the beneficiaries. The Bundled Payments for
Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative is the product of the CMMI. Under this initiative hospital and
physician services combined into a single payment, using episode based rather than the fee
for service payment method. Bundled payments provide an incentive for the hospitals and
its medical staff to improve coordination of care to improve value and eliminate unnecessary
cost. Hospitals and its providers share the associated risk and financial penalties if they cannot
control the cost and quality of care. In this new definition of the surgical episode also includes
the post-acute care expenses up to 90 days from the surgery.
Along with the mission of value-based care, this year, Joint Commission launched a new
Advanced Certification program for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement. The Advanced
Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement
certification program is designed
to assist healthcare organizations
to provide high-quality healthcare
with an emphasis on patient
safety. The certification program
will focus on the transitions of care
for patients undergoing a total joint
replacement. The uniqueness of this
certification begins with reviewing
the procedures associated with the
orthopedic consultation, pre-operative,
intraoperative and post-surgical
orthopedic surgeon follow up care.
The Joint Commission identified
standardized performance measures
for this program. Currently, the joint
commission is collaborating with the
pilot sites to develop standards for
the electronic performance measure
set 1-4 in relations to Pre-admitting,
Operating Rooms, PACU, and
Orthopedic Units areas. https://www.
jointcommission.org/total_hip__total_
knee_replacement_/
1. Usage of Neuraxial Anesthesia
2. Postoperative Mobilization on Day
of Surgery
3. Discharged to Home
4. Preoperative Functional/Health
Status Assessment
ERAS orthopedic care bundles.
Enhanced recovery after surgery
ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
(ERAS) concept emerged following
the work of Henrik Kehlet, M.D., Ph.D
1992 on colorectal surgeries. ERAS is
a model of coordinated care delivery of
evidence-based care bundles, aimed
at achieving perioperative optimization
and reducing the adverse effects of the
surgical stress response. A number
of studies have examined the ERAS
pathway care bundles for primary hip
and knee replacement surgeries, with
a recent review highlighting that such
pathways can be applied to a wide
variety of patients.
Aasvang et al.3
concluded in their
study that ERAS can in fact be
applied routinely to all hip and knee
replacement patients in order to
11
Despite the apparent success of these surgeries, quality and cost
׉	 7cassandra://UDjSwgBmNnnFZkynKEirfVrG76u1OIRZCnuOYunK4HA` X5v^ 8>X5t^ 8$(בCט   (u׉׉	 7cassandra://wr-KhlR_eWZ3mJKxPKJiXyHJORHIMYRxymXYg-OPfrw T` ׉	 7cassandra://qzb5Wyc_BzapHAlIestHExKaX-FHG23nQPGIXUAx10oj`s׉	 7cassandra://bGeuiwHSCTQhYkZFgHHpNURg4TrktcUHd7uK-9G3AUk&` ׉	 7cassandra://Q9PB2lbt4u3Mh6QwZv9tw_VLTw3gggdsHfH5HSK8Tfg{͠]X5v^ 8?ט  (u׉׉	 7cassandra://UbUDBWX0LLwPzzhnHUx4u43zJyBnZPFGrJ5IwvNpwu8 !^`׉	 7cassandra://3nBrszxWykxnrVsrvKbLn7vx3ALWWfKIF4OdJE-QqwYm5`s׉	 7cassandra://AP-UChFbdKLAqtyao-nHRah5pJSmG6nfYgLpXdmXkfQM` ׉	 7cassandra://dcxcrazndh0QgbQWVJLhyTpDytPQWd1IrGhwpMl7oOg U͠]X5w^ 8@נX5w^ 8v 2N9ׁHhttp://aserhq.orgׁׁЈ׉Eachieve 1–3 days hospital length of
stay, a reduced incidence of cardiac
and venous thromboembolism
complications and reduced postoperative
delirium and cognitive
dysfunction. The authors further
showed that the mean length of stay
can be decreased from 76.6 hours
to 56.1 hours after implementation
of the evidence-based orthopedic
ERAS pathway (P < 0.001). This
improvement was possible without a
concomitant increase in readmission
rates.
Another study compared 1500 primary
hip and knee replacement patients on
an ERAS pathway with 3000 patients
using a traditional protocol. The
authors found that the median LOS
decreased from 6 to 3 days, saving
5418 bed days.4
The 90-day mortality
rate was also significantly reduced, as
well as transfusion requirements.
Other studies have found ERAS
pathways feasible and safe for more
complex groups of patients such as
the elderly,5
with a decrease in LOS
for patients aged ≥85 years, and no
negative effects on morbidity and
mortality rates.
Additionally, the beneficial effects of
ERAS are not limited to the routine
primary hip and knee replacements.
More complex and surgically variable
procedures such as revision joint
replacement, shoulder replacement,
and in non-elective procedures
such as fractured neck of femur
patients have found outcomes to
similar to those for primary total knee
replacement with respect to LOS and
morbidity,6
where median LOS was
2 days, no morbidity within 3 months,
low readmission rates, and high levels
of patient satisfaction. Major spine
surgery is another specialty area that
the application of ERAS principles has
potential to improve patient outcomes.7
When ERAS principles are
incorporated into existing or new
clinical pathways, they improve the
value of care delivery. Risk-adjusted
12
Conclusion
Evidence exists to support the
increased use of ERAS pathways.
High-volume orthopedic surgeries
such as total joint arthroplasty as well
as spine surgery are ideal for such
clinical pathways. Such high-volume
procedures also allow for individual
centers to track data and feedback
data to help optimize the future use
of pathways. Adaptation of ERAS
patient outcomes, patient safety, and
optimizing the use of resources are
used for performance and quality
indicators.8
2009 meta-analysis
suggested that clinical pathways and
care organization have significantly
impacted the quality of care in joint
replacement surgery with reduced
postoperative complications, shorter
length of stay and potentially lower
cost of care.9
Recent, large sample
analysis on perioperative fluid
administration variability in the hip and
knee replacement surgeries concluded
that both low and high fluid volumes
associate with worse outcomes.10
Suggested orthopedic ERAS care
bundles
Preoperative
Patient education and expectation setting
Preoperative nutritional assessment and
optimization
Carbohydrate loading
Minimal preoperative fasting
Anemia detection and optimization
Preemptive pain management
Intraoperative
Minimally invasive surgery
Multimodal analgesia
Goal directed fluid management
Nausea vomiting prophylaxis
Active warming
Blood loss prevention
Postoperative
Early return to oral diet
Physiotherapy and early mobilization
Early discharge
principles as part of integrated care
pathways appear feasible and may
effectively improve patient outcomes,
satisfaction and reduce cost. ERAS
concepts perfectly lines up with
the accountable care organizational
needs to create a platform for the
transformational care initiatives. We
encourage institutions to identify
multidisciplinary service champions
to develop ERAS pathway care. A
number of professional organizations
including the ERAS Society
(erassociety.org), and American
Society of Enhance Recovery (aserhq.
org) provide guidelines and resources
to help with development of such
pathways at the institutional level. n
References
1. Davis MA, Onega T, Weeks WB, Lurie JD. Where
the United States spends its spine dollars:
expenditures on different ambulatory services for
the management of back and neck conditions.
Spine 2012;37:1693–701.
2. Maradit Kremers H, Larson DR, Crowson CS,
Kremers WK, Washington RE, Steiner CA, Jiranek
WA, Berry DJ. Prevalence of Total Hip and Knee
Replacement in the United States. The Journal of
Bone & Joint Surgery 2015;97:1386–97.
3. Aasvang EK, Luna IE, Kehlet H. Challenges in
postdischarge function and recovery: the case of
fast-track hip and knee arthroplasty. Hardman JG,
ed. Br J Anaesth 2015:aev257–6.
4. A. Malviya, K. Martin, I. Harper, et al. Enhanced
recovery program for hip and knee replacement
reduces death rate. A study of 4500 consecutive
primary hip and knee replacement Acta Orthop, 82
(2011), pp. 577–581
5. C.C. Jorgensen, H. Kehlet, on behalf of the
Lundbeck Foundation Centre for Fast-track hip
and knee replacement collaborative Group Role
of patient characteristics for fast-track hip and
knee arthroplasty Br J Anaesth, 110 (2013), pp.
972–980
6. H. Husted, S. Kristian Otte, B.B. Kristensen, et al.
Fast-track revision knee arthroplasy
Acta Orthop, 82 (2011), pp. 438–440
7. Wainwright TW, Immins T, Middleton RG.
Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and its
applicability for major spine surgery. Best Practice
& Research Clinical Anaesthesiology 2016;30:91–
102.
8. Association EP. Clinical/care pathways. Slovenia
Board Meeting, 2005.
9. Barbieri A, Vanhaecht K, Van Herck P, Sermeus
W, Faggiano F, Marchisio S, Panella M. Effects of
clinical pathways in the joint replacement: a metaanalysis.
BMC Medicine 2009 7:1 2009;7:32.
10. Thacker JKM, Mountford WK, Ernst FR, Krukas
MR, Mythen MMG. Perioperative Fluid Utilization
Variability and Association With Outcomes. Annals
of Surgery 2016;263:502–10.
ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
׉	 7cassandra://bGeuiwHSCTQhYkZFgHHpNURg4TrktcUHd7uK-9G3AUk&` X5t^ 8&׉EsERAS for Spine Surgery:
A New Frontier
By Ellen M. Soffin, MD, PhD; Alana E. Sigmund, MD, FHM &
Chad M. Craig, MD, FACP
I
t is evident that Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) has become an established
and effective mechanism for perioperative care across surgical subspecialties. In our
companion piece in the Newsletter, we propose total joint arthroplasty (TJA) as the
quintessential orthopedic procedure to benefit from ERAS principles: There is already
convincing evidence that clinical pathways effect cost savings and clinical benefits for TJA
patients, including decreased length of stay and complications. In contrast, there is a
paucity of data in the published literature and reports at the institutional level for the role of
ERAS pathways in spine surgery. There is much in common between the spine surgery and
colorectal surgery patient (where most ERAS evidence exists to date), including predicted
systemic inflammatory response (SIR), length of stay, requirement for parenteral analgesics
and complications (particularly ileus). Given the evidence and enthusiasm for ERAS, it
is unexpected that spine surgery should remain so understudied with respect to ERAS
protocols.
This inattention occurs despite compelling biochemical, clinical and economic arguments
to support ERAS for spine surgery. First, major spine surgery is associated with predicable
increases in stress hormones and inflammatory cytokines1
which may be associated with
a host of postoperative complications, including thromboembolism, atrial fibrillation and
delirium.2,3
Preoperative steroids
Specific interventions have been demonstrated to reduce biomarkers of surgical
stress and improve outcomes after spine surgery. For example, intraoperative administration
of the alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, dexmedetomidine, lowers interleukin-10 and cortisol
and improves quality of recovery after multilevel lumbar fusion.4
lower interlukin-6 and C-reactive protein after cervical laminoplasty without increasing the
risk of wound infection or compromised healing.5
Minimally invasive surgical techniques
are associated with lower levels of
cytokines compared to conventional
techniques up to 8 days post lumbar
fusion.6
The overall safety and
efficacy benefits of minimally invasive
approaches have yet to be fully
established in lumbar spine surgery,7
but represent an intriguing possibility
for future research as a component
of ERAS for spine pathways. The
minimally invasive approach may
indeed be the ERAS-for-spine
analogy to the laparoscopic approach
in ERAS-for-colorectal surgery, in
terms of benefits on outcomes and
biomolecular markers of surgical
stress.8
The second argument in favor
of ERAS for spine surgery is an
economic one. The demand for
spine surgery and the cost of surgery
are both increasing exponentially
in the United States and abroad.9
Indeed, a recent economic report
estimated the total annual cost
for back pain in the United States
(including diagnosis, treatment and
rehabilitation) at over $50 billion
US dollars annually, and costs are
projected to increase 4.8% annually
in the near term.10
According to the
report, the demand for spine surgery
is being driven by an aging population,
an increase in the number of fusions
being performed, and technical
ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
advances making complex surgery
more commonplace. Given these
pressures, any reduction in length
of stay, no matter how modest, is
likely to produce significant economic
gains, as has been demonstrated
repeatedly for ERAS in other surgical
disciplines. As an illustrative example
of potential economic gains, we
can consider lumbar fusion: The
hospital costs associated with lumbar
fusion without instrumentation was
recently reported in a cohort study
to be approximately $14,700.00
US dollars.11
The average length of
stay was 3.5 days in a sample of 77
patients. A reduction in length of stay
of just 0.5 days per patient would
13
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of approximately $161,700.00 in this
cohort alone.
The third argument should ideally be
made on the basis of evidence to
indicate improved outcomes, reduced
complications and rising patient
satisfaction associated with ERAS
for spine. However, this evidence
is currently scarce and there are no
published accounts of comprehensive
ERAS pathways for any spine surgery
subtypes at this time. However, there
is an extensive literature regarding
components of care that classically
comprise ERAS pathways, together
with encouraging results on a range
of clinically important outcomes. A
full review is outside the scope of this
commentary, but several observations
can be highlighted: multimodal
analgesic regimens incorporating
acetaminophen, non-steroidal antiinflammatories,
anti-convulsants, and
local anesthetics are opioid sparing,
and associated with improved
patient satisfaction, reduced length
of stay, and better pain control than
intravenous opioid-based therapy after
spine surgery;12
a blood conservation
strategy including the anti-fibrinolytic,
tranexamic acid, reduces autologous
blood transfusion without increasing
the risk of thromboembolic events
after major reconstructive spine
surgery;13
identifying patients at risk
of nutritional deficiency and optimizing
nutritional status was associated
with a faster return to nutritional
baseline (or anabolic state) after
major reconstruction surgery (>10
spinal levels);14
and intravenous fluid
restriction is associated with less
post-operative ileus after lumbar
fusion irrespective of surgical
approach.15
If follows that these examples could
be used as the basis for ERAS
for spine pathways. However, a
closer examination of the state of
the evidence base raises more
questions than it answers and
exposes significant gaps in research
and knowledge: What is the role
of pre-operative education and
shared-decision making in the
spine population? How can we
standardize pathways for such
heterogeneous patients, indications
and surgical interventions? What is
the role of epidural analgesia after
spine surgery? Is early mobilization
appropriate after major reconstructive
procedures? These are just a very
few of the questions that need to
be answered urgently if ERAS for
spine is to become relevant and
useful. In order to most efficiently
provide solutions, we advocate
creating an ERAS for spine pathway
that can be adopted according to
institutional capability. At Hospital for
Special Surgery, we have recently
implemented an ERAS pathway for
lumbar spine fusion. The pathway is
based on current best evidence, but
where evidence is lacking, we have
implemented measures that have
demonstrated efficacy in other ERAS
protocols. We are currently enrolling
patients in a prospective study to
investigate the effect(s) of the pathway
on patient centered outcomes.
Additionally, we call for research and
well-designed studies that focus on
procedure-specific interventions,
improving logistics, and fostering a
culture of enhanced recovery across
disciplines. n
References
1. Watt DG, Horgan PG, McMillan DC: Routine
clinical markers of the magnitude of the systemic
inflammatory response after elective operation: a
systematic review. Surgery 2015; 362-80.
2. Hu YF, Chen YJ, Lin YJ, Chen SA: Inflammation
and the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation. Nature
Rev Cardiol 2015; 12(4):230-43.
3. Van Munster BC, Korevaar JC, Zwinderman AH,
Levi M, Wiersinga WJ, De Rooij SE: Time-course
of cytokines during delirium in elderly patients
with hip fractures. J Am Geriatr Soc 2008;
56(9):1704-9.
4. Bekker A, Haile M, Kline R, Didehvar S, Babu R,
Martiniuk F, Urban M: The effect of intraoperative
infusion of dexmedetomidine on quality of
recovery after major spinal surgery. J Neurosurg
Anesthesiol 2013; 25(1):16-24.
5. Demura S, Takahashi K, Murakami H, Fujimaki
Y, Kato S, Tsuchiya H: The influence of
steroid administration on systemic response
in laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy. Arch
Orthop Trauma Surg 2013; 133(8):1041-5.
6. Kim KT, Lee SH, Suk, SK, Bae SC: The
quantitative analysis of tissue injury markers after
mini-open lumbar fusion. Spine; 31(6):712-6.
7. Payer M: “Minimally invasive” lumbar spine
surgery: a critical review. Acta Neurochir (Wein)
2011; 153(7):1455-9.
8. Zhuang CL, Huang DD, Chen FF, Zhou CL,
Zheng BS, Chen BC, Shen X, Yu Z: Laparoscopic
versus open colorectal surgery within enhanced
recovery after surgery programs: a systematic
review and meta-analysis of randomized
controlled trials. Surg Endosc 2015; 29(8):2091100.
9.
Wainwright TW, Immins T, Middleton RG:
Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and its
applicability for major spine surgery. Best Pract
Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2016; 30(1):91-102.
10. Ken Research. The US Spinal Surgery
Market Outlook to 2017: Ageing population
and technological advances to intensify
the competition. 2013; Available at
www.marketresearch.com/product/
sample-7535890.pdf
11. Molina CA, Zadnik PL, Gokaslan ZL, Witham TF,
Bydon A, Wolinsky JP, Sciubba DM: A cohort
analysis of lumbar laminectomy—current trends
in surgeon and hospital fees distribution. Spine J
2013; 13(11):1434-7.
12. Devin CJ, McGirt MJ: Best evidence in
multimodal pain management in spine surgery
and means of assessing postoperative pain and
functional outcomes. J Clin Neurosci 2015;
22:930-38.
13. Soroceanu A, Oren JH, Smith JS, Hostin R,
Shaffrey CI, Mundis GM, Ames CP, Burton DC,
Bess S, Gupta MC, Deviren V, Schwab FJ,
Lafage V, Errico TJ: Effect of antifibrinolytic therapy
on complications, thromboembolic events, blood
product utilization, and fusion in adult spinal
deformity surgery. Spine 2016; 41(14):E897-86.
14. Lapp MA, Bridwell KH, Lenke LG, Baldus C,
Blanke K, Iffrig TM: Prospective randomization of
parenteral hyperalimentation for long fusions with
spinal deformity: its effect on complications and
recovery from postoperative malnutrition. Spine
2001;26(7):809-17.
15. Fineberg SJ, Nandyala SV, Kurd MF, MarquezLara
A, Noureldin M, Sankaranarayanan S, Patel
AA, Oglesby M, Singh K: Incidence and risk
factors for postoperative ileus following anterior,
posterior and circumferential lumbar fusion. Spine
J 2014; 1680-5.
14
ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
׉	 7cassandra://pxO7jZCS7Mo7TpmTQ4ZPi-tbxwC4BqMvwekj9Q_yEzY9` X5v^ 86׉E]Choices Matter: ASER Partners with Pacira
Pharmaceuticals to Launch National
Campaign to Combat Opioid Epidemic
Over the past year, America’s struggle
with the growing opioid epidemic has
swept national headlines. New reports
estimate 78 people die every day in the
U.S. from overuse of opioids.1
Adding
to this problem is a surreptitious factor:
surgery has become an unintentional
gateway to this tragic epidemic. In
fact, research shows that one-in-10
patients prescribed an opioid following
surgery report becoming addicted to or
dependent on the drug.
It’s clear that we need to improve the
dialogue between patients and surgeons
related to postsurgical pain management
– many patients are still unaware that
they have choices, including nonopioid
options. That’s why ASER
partnered with Pacira Pharmaceuticals
to launch Choices Matter, a national,
unbranded campaign designed to
educate, empower and activate patients,
caregivers and physicians to proactively
discuss postsurgical pain management,
including non-opioid options before
surgery. The campaign provides an
opportunity to drive consideration for
non-opioid alternatives, which can
potentially minimize or virtually eliminate
the need for prolonged use of opioids
after surgery.
The Choices Matter campaign launched
August 1 in New York City, featuring a
top orthopedic surgeon and professional
athlete and television personality Gabby
Reece. Gabby recently had her own
knee replacement surgery without the
help of prescription opioids, which
made Choices Matter an especially
relevant and timely campaign for her. The
campaign website – PlanAgainstPain.
com – features helpful tools for patients
about to undergo their own surgeries,
including a customized doctor discussion
guide that allows patients to facilitate
conversations about non-opioid options
with their surgeons.
To-date, Choices Matter has generated
nearly 240 media placements and more
than 476.5 million media impressions.
Highlights include a New York Times
Letter to the Editor from ASER President,
Dr. T.J. Gan, which leveraged key
statistics from a national survey of
patients and surgeons conducted by
Pacira. Additional coverage was featured
in USA Today, Good Day New York, U.S.
News & World Report, CNBC-TV, Self.
com, CBS New York and Parade.com.
PlanAgainstPain.com has generated
more than 45,000 page views and 180
discussion guide downloads to date.
While our efforts have sparked a national
dialogue about alternatives to opioids,
there is much more work to be done to
combat this growing epidemic. For more
information visit PlanAgainstPain.com. n
References
1. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/
Gabby’s Story
By Gabrielle Reece, Professional Volleyball Player, Sports Announcer,
Fashion Model & Actress
Professional Athlete and Television
Personality Gabby Reece Talks About
Recovery After Surgery
T
he intense pain in my knee
was starting to affect my life,
especially when I exercised or
played volleyball. When it got to
a place where I knew I couldn’t make it
better through training, nutrition or therapy,
I decided it was time to get my knee
replaced.
It has been a little over six months since I
had my surgery, and recovery has been a
long road for me. Prior to the procedure,
I had made a personal decision not to
take opioids. Although I was given a
low-dose painkiller in the hospital, I knew
I didn’t want to take a prescription home
with me. I’m very respectful of the fact
that opioids are addictive and, although I
consider myself a strong person physically
and mentally, I’m aware that addiction
shows no discrimination when it comes
to age, gender, ethnicity, lifestyle, etc. – it
can happen to anyone. In fact, a recent
survey found that one-in-10 patients
prescribed an opioid following surgery
report becoming addicted to or dependent
on the drug. I’ve been proactive in trying
to avoid that because it’s important to me
to stay holistic as possible in my recovery
through sleep, stress management,
ASER ALERT • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 • aserhq.org
exercise and nutrition. What I didn’t know
is that there are many options available
for managing pain after surgery, including
non-opioids.
Choices Matter is important to me
because I believe we should all be
advocates for our own health. This
program is about giving patients the
resources they need to make the most
educated choice for them. That’s why I’m
encouraging people to have a conversation
with their doctor about alternatives to
managing pain after surgery, including nonopioid
options. Visit PlanAgainstPain.com
to learn more and download a discussion
guide that can help you or a loved one
have this important conversation. n
15
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Copyright© ASER 2016 unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission from the editor.
American Society for Enhanced Recovery
6737 W Washington St. | Ste. 4210 | Milwaukee, WI 53214
414-389-8610 |
info@aserhq.org
׉	 7cassandra://csXrqywFtvIjRkhrBds7vdSoofxBsiICkNrSRepKyZwA` X5w^ 8M׈EX5w^ 8NX5w^ 8M(,ASER Alert: Vol.1 Iss.1X5p䰱Zv4