90-Day complication rate in patients undergoing radical cystectomy with enhanced recovery protocol: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Purpose: To report 90-day complication rates following radical cystectomy (RC) with enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent open RC with ERAS protocol from 2012 to 2014 were included. The protocol includes no bowel preparation or NGT, early feeding, predominantly non-narcotic pain management and μ-opioid antagonists. Non-consenting and lost to follow-up patients were excluded. All patients were closely followed up, and 90-day complication (Clavien-Dindo grading), readmission and emergency room (ER) visits were prospectively recorded.

Results: One hundred and sixty-nine cases with a median age of 71 years were included in the study. 90-Day major and minor complication rates were 24.3 and 53.9 %, respectively. The most common complications were infectious and gastrointestinal. The 90-day ER visit rate was 37.9 %, whereas the readmission rate was 29.6 %. The most common cause of hospital readmission and ER visits was infections.

Conclusion: Radical cystectomy and urinary diversion with enhanced recovery protocol is a morbid surgery. The most common complication, cause of ER visit and readmission is yet infections. Further studies on methods to decrease these rates are underway.

Keywords: Bladder cancer; Complications; Cystectomy; Enhanced recovery.