Enhancing recovery: Joining the Improving Surgical Care and Recovery programme to decrease colorectal surgical site...

Area of Science:

• Colorectal Surgery
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Infection Control

Background:

• Surgical site infections (SSIs) following colorectal surgery present significant clinical and financial burdens.
• Effective strategies are needed to mitigate SSIs and improve patient outcomes in this surgical population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To decrease the incidence of surgical site infections in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.
• To improve overall patient care and reduce length of stay in a community hospital setting.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team was formed to implement evidence-based protocols.
• Data on surgical site infection rates and length of stay were collected and analyzed.
• Protocols included patient education, pain management, bowel preparation, antibiotics, and early alimentation.

Main Results:

• The implemented protocols led to a significant reduction in surgical site infections, from 9.1% to 0%.
• The median length of stay for colorectal surgical patients decreased from 6 to 4 days.
• Over 200 patients benefited from the improved care protocols.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based protocols, including patient education and perioperative care bundles, effectively reduce SSIs in colorectal surgery.
• Collaborative efforts and protocol implementation can overcome challenges in community hospital settings.
• The Improving Surgical Care and Recovery program demonstrated success in enhancing colorectal patient outcomes.