Medical Student UT Health San Antonio, Long School of Medicine San Antonio, TX, US
Introduction: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have demonstrated efficacy in reducing length of hospital stay (LOS), decreasing postoperative morbidity, and lowering hospital costs. While ERAS protocols have been implemented in spine surgery and neurosurgical oncology, the application of ERAS protocols in deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease (PD) has not been reported. Here we present the outcomes after implementation of an ERAS protocol for patients with PD undergoing DBS implantation by a single surgeon, hypothesizing that it may reduce LOS and improve overall patient outcomes.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of electronic medical records (EMR) for patients who underwent DBS for PD between January 2016 and May 2024 at two surgical sites affiliated with our institution with an ERAS protocol in place. We collected data on patient demographics, LOS, and postoperative complications within 30 days. Patients with incomplete records were excluded from the analysis.
Results: The study included 96 patients aged 28-85 years at the time of surgery, with 60 males (62.5%) and 36 females (37.5%). Of these, 83 patients (86%) self-identified as White, with 39 (41.1%) identifying as Hispanic/Latinx. The average LOS in the hospital was 1.68 days (SD=1.56) with an average ICU LOS of 1.06 days (SD=0.470). 13 patients (13.5%) experienced postoperative complications within 30 days, including 6 treated for signs of wound infection or possible wound infection.
Conclusion : Our presentation of outcomes has shown promising results and highlights the potential of implementing ERAS protocols for DBS. With an average LOS of 1.68 days and a 30-day postoperative complication rate of 13.5%, our findings suggest a favorable early recovery trajectory for these patients. Future studies are needed to assess the generalizability of these results across diverse patient populations.
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