Papers of the Week

In light of the worsening opioid epidemic and nationwide parenteral opioid shortage, our institution created an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol. Our objective was to evaluate our initial experience transitioning to ERAS in cardiac surgery. An institutional cardiac ERAS protocol was implemented in April 2018, consisting of opioid-sparing analgesia, liberalization of fasting and activity restrictions, and goal-directed standardization of perioperative care. Clinical outcomes, opioid administration, and pain scores of patients undergoing nonemergent cardiac surgery were reviewed from March 2017 to July 2018. Patients were propensity score matched into pre-ERAS and transition-to-ERAS (t-ERAS) cohorts and compared by univariate analysis. Of 467 patients, 236 patients were well-matched (118 per cohort). The transition to ERAS resulted in a 79% reduction in morphine equivalents through postoperative day one (359.3 mg pre-ERAS vs 75.4 mg ERAS, p<0.0001). Despite less opioid utilization, t-ERAS patients reported lower pain scores (median 4.88 vs 4.14, p=0.011). There was no difference in mortality (2% vs 0%, p=0.498) or postoperative complications including initial hours ventilated (5.3 vs 5.2 hours, p=0.380), prolonged ventilation (9.3% vs 6.8%, p=0.473), renal failure (3.4% vs 2.5%, p=0.701), and ICU length of stay (58.3 vs 70.4 hours, p=0.272). The transition to cardiac ERAS resulted in significantly reduced opioid administration and improved patient pain scores while maintaining excellent outcomes. Well-supported, multidisciplinary teams of cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and intensivists can dramatically reduce opioid use without sacrificing pain control or excellent clinical outcomes.