Rapid recovery management: the effects on the patient who has undergone heart surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether patients who have undergone heart surgery can be managed with use of rapid recovery guidelines without any subsequent increase in complication, mortality, or readmission rates.


METHODS
Retrospective study, two groups, comparative.


METHODS
Private midwestern hospital with 690 licensed beds.


METHODS
Group I consisted of 312 adult patients who had undergone heart surgery in 1993 who were managed using traditional methods. Group II consisted of 303 patients who had undergone heart surgery in 1994 who were managed using rapid recovery guidelines.


METHODS
Complications (pneumonia and wound infections), mortality, and readmission rates.


RESULTS
Of the surgeries performed in 1994, 44% of the patients were discharged by postoperative day 4. No increase was noted in complication, mortality, and readmission rates.


CONCLUSIONS
When compared to patients who were managed by traditional methods, these findings indicated that it is possible to manage adult patients who have undergone heart surgery using rapid recovery guidelines and maintain high-quality patient outcomes and level of satisfaction. In addition, cost savings and decreased resource use are added benefits.
Dunstan
J L
JL
St. Mary's Health Center, St. Louis, MO 63117, USA.
Riddle
M M
MM
D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies