Post-Operative Recovery After Cesarean Hysterectomy Using the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Pathway

The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway has emerged as an evidence-based protocol to optimize patient post-operative recovery. It utilizes multimodal analgesia to decrease narcotic use and promote streamlined patient-centered care that helps to reduce blood loss, expedite patients' return to baseline function, and prepare patient expectations around surgery. This pathway has been well studied in several surgical populations, including gynecologic (post hysterectomy) and obstetric (post cesarean) patients.

Patients undergoing cesarean hysterectomies are a unique surgical population. These procedures are most commonly performed for patients with placenta accreta spectrum or severe postpartum hemorrhage. Ideally, women with suspected placenta accreta spectrum diagnosed antenatally should be delivered at a level III or IV center with placenta accreta spectrum Centers of Excellence accreditation to improve outcomes. With the rates of placenta accreta spectrum increasing, these Centers of Excellence could consider applying principles of the ERAS pathway to the operative management of these patients. Other populations have seen decreases in opioid use, quicker baseline recovery, shorter hospital stays and overall improved patient satisfaction with the use of the ERAS pathway.

In recent studies examining the effectiveness of the ERAS pathway, post-operative cesarean patients experienced decreased average inpatient opioid exposure without an increase in pain scores, early mobilization and nutrition targets without increases in adverse outcomes after program implementation. Post-operative hysterectomy patients with gynecologic indications experienced shorter lengths of stay and decreased opioid consumption. Additionally, patients have significantly higher satisfaction scores. The investigators suspect that this population may also benefit similarly.

This research is a pre- and post- study to assess and describe surgical outcomes and parameters surrounding patients' post-operative recovery and experience before and after the ERAS pathway is implemented at a high volume placenta accreta spectrum Center of Excellence.

The study design involves a retrospective analysis of variables related to postpartum recovery. The primary outcome will be oral morphine equivalents as a proxy for narcotic use in the first 72 hours post-operatively, comparing pre- to post-ERAS implementation. Investigators will also collect data on pain scores, time to ambulation, time to foley catheter removal and first void, and length of stay. Investigators will also collect data on post-operative complications including surgical site infection, urinary tract infection, transfusion, unplanned return to OR, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, unplanned intubation, cardiac arrest, readmission within 30 days, sepsis, and death within 30 days.