Patrick Téoule1, Emrullah Birgin1, Christina Mertens2, Matthias Schwarzbach3, Stefan Post1, Nuh N Rahbari1, Christoph Reißfelder1, Ulrich Ronellenfitsch4. 1. Department of Surgery, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. 2. Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Moltkestr.90, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany. 3. Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Thoracic Surgery, Klinikum Frankfurt Höchst, Gotenstraße 6-8, 65929 Frankfurt, Germany. 4. Department of Visceral, Vascular and Endocrine Surgery, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany.
Abstract
(1) Background: Oncological gastrectomy requires complex multidisciplinary management. Clinical pathways (CPs) can potentially facilitate this task, but evidence related to their use in managing oncological gastrectomy is limited. This study evaluated the effect of a CP for oncological gastrectomy on process and outcome quality. (2) Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing oncological gastrectomy before (n = 64) or after (n = 62) the introduction of a CP were evaluated. Assessed parameters included catheter and drain management, postoperative mobilization, resumption of diet and length of stay. Morbidity, mortality, reoperation and readmission rates were used as indicators of outcome quality. (3) Results: Enteral nutrition was initiated significantly earlier after CP implementation (5.0 vs. 7.0 days, p < 0.0001). Readmission was more frequent before CP implementation (7.8% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.05). Incentive spirometer usage increased following CP implementation (100% vs. 90.6%, p = 0.11). Mortality, morbidity and reoperation rates remained unchanged. (4) Conclusions: After implementation of an oncological gastrectomy CP, process quality improved, while indicators of outcome quality such as mortality and reoperation rates remained unchanged. CPs are a promising tool to standardize perioperative care for oncological gastrectomy.
(1) Background: Oncological gastrectomy requires complex multidisciplinary management. Clinical pathways (CPs) can potentially facilitate this task, but evidence related to their use in managing oncological gastrectomy is limited. This study evaluated the effect of a CP for oncological gastrectomy on process and outcome quality. (2) Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing oncological gastrectomy before (n = 64) or after (n = 62) the introduction of a CP were evaluated. Assessed parameters included catheter and drain management, postoperative mobilization, resumption of diet and length of stay. Morbidity, mortality, reoperation and readmission rates were used as indicators of outcome quality. (3) Results: Enteral nutrition was initiated significantly earlier after CP implementation (5.0 vs. 7.0 days, p < 0.0001). Readmission was more frequent before CP implementation (7.8% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.05). Incentive spirometer usage increased following CP implementation (100% vs. 90.6%, p = 0.11). Mortality, morbidity and reoperation rates remained unchanged. (4) Conclusions: After implementation of an oncological gastrectomy CP, process quality improved, while indicators of outcome quality such as mortality and reoperation rates remained unchanged. CPs are a promising tool to standardize perioperative care for oncological gastrectomy.
Authors: Ahmed Salem; Hossam Elamir; Huda Alfoudri; Mohammed Shamsah; Shams Abdelraheem; Ibtissam Abdo; Mohammad Galal; Lamiaa Ali Journal: BMJ Open Qual Date: 2020-11