AnesthesiologyNews.com
Theresa Bowling, MD
Enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) have been shown to reduce costs and improve outcomes in nearly all surgical specialties, including shortening length of stay (LOS) by 30% to 50%, with similar reductions in complications and decreased readmissions. Compared with traditional care, ERPs have resulted in a cost savings of $6,900 to $7,129 per patient. This evidence-based approach to standardizing care of the surgical patient with best practices often includes regional anesthesia techniques, including ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA), that result in longer block durations, faster onset times, improved block success, and a reduced need for opioids. In this article from the March 2019 edition of AnesthesiologyNews.com by Dr. Theresa Bowling of Integrated Anesthesia Associates, Fairfield, CT, learn about the results for several UGRA blocks and how to integrate them into your practice.
Positive Impacts of Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia on Enhanced Recovery Pathways