Enhanced recovery from obstetric surgery: a U.K. survey of practice

In the UK earlier discharge of patients following elective caesarean section would require that more patients are discharged the day after surgery. The introduction of enhanced recovery in other specialties has resulted in shorter postoperative stay. We surveyed current U.K. practice to find whether this was consistent with enhanced recovery and what changes units would need to introduce to establish such a programme.

We conducted an Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association approved electronic survey of all the U.K. lead obstetric anaesthetists between March and May 2013.

A response rate of 81% was achieved with 96% of those who responded supporting the concept of enhanced recovery. Only 4% of units routinely discharged their patients on day one. There were a number of practices consistent with enhanced recovery. Postoperative pain was controlled by regular paracetamol (97%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (100% when not contraindicated), with oral opioids (68%) being used for breakthrough pain. Over 70% of units allowed minimal interruption of perioperative oral intake and 72% of units mobilised their patients within 12h of surgery or when the neuraxial block had worn off. In contrast, a minority of units monitored patient temperature in theatre (27%) or used active warming (18%), and 28% routinely removed the urinary catheter within 12h of surgery or when the neuraxial block had worn off. Regarding neonatal recovery, only 23% reported using delayed cord clamping and 53% used skin-to-skin contact in theatre.

Most obstetric units support the concept of enhanced recovery following caesarean section and many could introduce a programme for elective surgery with relatively small changes in patient care.