title: Introduction of enhanced recovery for elective caesarean section enabling next day discharge: a tertiary centre experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The widespread adoption of enhanced recovery programmes in various surgical specialties has resulted in patient benefits including reduced morbidity, reduced length of stay and an earlier return to normal activities. This evidence, along with the increased financial pressures in the UK National Health Service, has led many units to consider introducing such a programme for obstetric surgery. We report our experience in setting up an enhanced recovery programme for women undergoing elective caesarean section and a prospective analysis of factors that influence length of stay.
  
  
  METHODS
  An enhanced recovery pathway was designed by a multidisciplinary team and introduced in March 2012. Factors influencing length of stay were determined using a log normal model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of women discharged on Day 1 increased from 1.6% in the first quarter of 2012 to 25.2% in the first quarter of 2014. The 30-day readmission rate was 4.4% for those discharged on Day 1 and 5.6% for Day 2. Earlier gestation, multiple birth, intention to breast feed, longer surgery and more time in the post-anaesthesia recovery unit were all independently associated with a longer postoperative stay. Women presenting for obstetric surgery with the indication "one previous caesarean section" were more likely to leave hospital earlier compared to most other indications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An enhanced recovery programme was successfully introduced into our unit. Many of the interventions were straightforward and could be adopted easily elsewhere.
authors: Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. Electronic address: Ian.Wrench@sth.nhs.uk.
authors: I J
authors: IJ
authors: Wrench
authors: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Allison
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Galimberti
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Radley
authors: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Caesarean section; Elective; Enhanced recovery