Implementation of enhanced recovery protocol did not increase rates of acute kidney injury in open gynecologic oncology surgery: A single-institution experience

Abstract

Objective

To compare the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) among patients undergoing gynecologic surgery before and after implementing an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of medical records from Mayo Clinic during three time periods when ERAS was used, focusing on patients who underwent open gynecologic surgery. AKI was defined using Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. We used inverse-probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to adjust for baseline covariates between pre-ERAS (135 patients) and post-ERAS (486 patients) cohorts. Statistical comparisons were made using t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum, chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and univariate logistic regression with odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI).

Results

Pre-IPTW, the AKI incidence was similar between cohorts (10.4 % vs 8.4 %, p = 0.48), and the odds of AKI for post-ERAS patients compared to pre-ERAS was not significant (OR 0.80, 95 % CI 0.42–1.51). After IPTW-adjustment, the AKI incidence remained comparable (10.3 % vs 8.1 %, p = 0.41), with the odds ratio unchanged (OR 0.76, 95 % CI 0.40–1.45). AKI patients were older (mean 67.0 vs 62.4 years, p < 0.01), had higher ASA scores (61.8 % vs 45.2 %, p = 0.02), lower preoperative hemoglobin (median 10.8 vs 12.5 g/dL, p < 0.01), longer surgeries (median 331 vs 222 min, p < 0.01), greater intraoperative blood loss (median 800 vs 500 mL, p < 0.01), more transfusions (56.4 % vs 29.3 %, p < 0.01), and higher fluid volumes (median 5750 vs 4165 mL, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The ERAS pathway did not significantly impact AKI incidence in gynecologic surgery patients. AKI remains associated with increased postoperative complications, highlighting the need for improved risk prediction and preventive strategies.