ERAS patients have less pain after total knee replacements

Editor's Note

Total knee patients in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs have less pain and recuperate faster, finds this study presented October 23 at the Anesthesiology 2016 annual meeting.

The study, from Rush University Medical Center (Chicago), included 243 total knee patients, who were provided a combination of postoperative pain medications that act by different mechanisms, rather than relying on one type of medication, which is standard.

Only 4% had moderate to severe pain the day after surgery, and 29% had no pain. Typically, about 60% of total knee patients have moderate to severe pain the day after surgery.

ERAS patients were discharged an average of 15 hours after surgery, whereas most total knee patients are hospitalized an average of 3.7 days.

CHICAGO - Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs, an important component of the Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH), are helping patients better prepare for surgery and recuperate faster afterward, according to two new studies being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2016 annual meeting. ERAS programs employ a variety of methods to ease the effects of surgery and fast track patient recovery.