Opioid use and length of stay following minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair in 436 patients - Benefits of an enhanced recovery pathway.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine outcomes of an enhanced recovery pathway (ERP) for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) at a high volume center, hypothesizing it is associated with decreased opioid requirement and shorter hospital stay.

METHODS

Patients were categorized into pre-ERP (1998-2006), transition (2007-2011), and ERP (2012-2017) cohorts. Data were abstracted from medical records. Univariate and multivariable analyses compared opioid utilization, length of stay (LOS), and complications between cohorts. Opioids were converted to morphine daily dose per kilogram (MEDD/kg).

RESULTS

Of 436 patients, 186 were ERP, 104 were transition, and 146 were pre-ERP. ERP was associated with decreased hospital opioid utilization (mean MEDD/kg 0.5 ± 0.2 vs 0.7 ± 0.4 vs 0.7 ± 0.8 p < .001) and shorter median LOS (3 vs 4 vs 5 days, p < .001) despite equivalent pain scores at discharge (2.7 ± 0.1 vs 2.8 ± 0.2 vs 2.9 ± 0.3, p = .73). Most ERP patients (76%) had LOS ≤3 days. Differences in LOS between ERP, transition, and pre-ERP persisted on multivariable analysis after adjusting for confounding factors. Post-operative complications were rare and not different between groups (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of our ERP was associated with decreased opioid requirement and shorter hospital stay. ERPs are a valuable tool in pediatric surgery given the current emphasis on optimizing opioid and resource utilization.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level III (Retrospective comparative study).