Feasibility of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery in Pediatric Colostomy Reversal

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) are multimodal perioperative pathways that have shown improved outcomes. ERAS after colostomy reversal has shown promising results in adults and few pediatric studies. We report our experience using ERAS for a colostomy reversal.

A retrospective analysis of children in whom ERAS was used during colostomy reversal between May 2016 and 2019 was carried out. ERAS protocol in our study included avoiding mechanical bowel preparation (MBP), oral liquid diet upto 3 h preoperatively, usage of regional anesthesia, minimal handling of bowel intraoperatively, using nonopioid analgesics for pain relief, early initiation of feeding on the first postoperative day, early discharge once full feeds are established. Outcomes analyzed are the duration of hospital stay and complications, including readmissions. Requirement for opioids and anti-emetics are noted. The outcomes are compared with traditional care pathways (TCP), which use MBP, overnight fasting, opioid analgesia, and delayed feeding. A total of 48 are included in the study, with 13 cases using ERAS and TCP in 35 cases.

Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test was used.

In the ERAS group, the mean length of hospital stay (LOS) postoperatively was 3.7 days (2-5 days) as opposed to 7.2 days (5-11 days) in TCP. There was only one child with complications in the ERAS group, while 9 cases in TCP had complications, though none of them required operative intervention. There was the requirement of anti-emetic in only one child in the ERAS group.

ERAS for colostomy reversal is feasible in the pediatric population. For successful implementation, all personnel involved in the care of the child need to be educated about the protocol. It reduces LOS and complications.