Impact of sequential implementation of multimodal perioperative care pathways on colorectal surgical outcomes

Standardized care protocols offer the potential to reduce postoperative complication rates. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was an additive benefit associated with the sequential implementation of the evidence-based surgical site infection bundle (SSIB) and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols for patients undergoing colorectal surgery in a community hospital.

Patients at a single institution who underwent elective colorectal surgery between Apr. 1, 2011, and Dec. 31, 2015, were identified by means of American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data. Patients were stratified into 3 groups according to the protocol implementation dates: pre-SSIB/pre-ERAS (control), post-SSIB/pre-ERAS and post-SSIB/post-ERAS. Primary outcomes assessed were length of stay and wound complication rates. We used inverse proportional weighting to control for possible differences between the groups.

There were 368 patients included: 94 in the control group, 95 in the post-SSIB/pre-ERAS group and 179 in the post-SSIB/post-ERAS group. In the adjusted analyses, mean length of stay (control group 7.6 d, post-SSIB/post-ERAS group 5.5 d, p = 0.04) and overall wound complication rates (14.7% and 6.5%, respectively, p = 0.049) were reduced after sequential implementation of the protocols.

Sequential implementation of quality-improvement initiatives yielded additive benefit for patients undergoing colorectal surgery in a community hospital, with a decrease in length of stay and wound complication rates. The amount of improvement attributable to either initiative is difficult to define as they were implemented sequentially. The improved outcomes were realized after the introduction of the ERAS protocol in adjusted analyses.