Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40738508›Full record

ArticleBMJ open quality2025

Implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery for caesarean delivery: a quality improvement initiative.

Melissa Walker, Mara Sobel, Naveed Siddiqi, Jose C A Carvalho, Nighat Jahan, Sara Santini, Nancy Watts, Kim Dart, Stella Wang, Ella Huszti and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open quality, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Melissa WalkerObstetrics and Gynecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-6266-1638
Mara SobelObstetrics and Gynecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Naveed SiddiqiAnaesthesia, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Jose C A CarvalhoAnaesthesia, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Nighat JahanObstetrics and Gynecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sara SantiniObstetrics and Gynecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Nancy WattsObstetrics and Gynecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Kim DartObstetrics and Gynecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Stella WangBiostatistics, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Ella HusztiBiostatistics, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Jackie ThomasObstetrics and Gynecology, Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada jackie.thomas@sinaihealth.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEnhanced recovery after caesarean delivery (ERAC) is a multidisciplinary, evidence-based bundle of interventions developed from Enhanced Recovery After Surgery principles, designed to improve patient outcomes, reduce complications and save healthcare resources. Despite these benefits, the implementation of ERAC within the Canadian healthcare context is unknown. In addition, previous ERAC studies typically excluded patients undergoing unplanned caesarean deliveries (CD). The objective of our study was to evaluate the results of a quality improvement initiative that implemented a comprehensive ERAC pathway for both planned and unplanned CD in a large Canadian obstetric unit, with a specific focus on patient-reported outcomes.

methodsA pre-implementation post implementation design was used. The primary outcomes were Obstetric Quality of Recovery Score (ObsQoR-10) and patient satisfaction at 6 weeks postpartum. Secondary outcomes included postpartum length of stay, postoperative pain and maternal infectious morbidity.

interventionAntenatal, intraoperative and postoperative ERAC bundles were developed with multidisciplinary input.

results513 patients were included: 290 pre-implementation (149 planned CD, 141 unplanned CD) and 223 post- implementation (128 planned CD, 95 unplanned CD). Baseline demographics were similar, except the post implementation groups had significantly higher median Body Mass Index (BMI). In planned CD, ObsQoR-10 scores were on average 3.4 points higher in the post-implementation group (95% CI (-0.19 to 6.99); p-value=0.063). Patient satisfaction assessed at 6 weeks postpartum was significantly improved by 12 points in the post-implementation group (95% CI (5.58 to 18.62); p-value<0.001). In unplanned CD, implementation was not associated with ObsQoR-10 (p-value=0.92) or patient satisfaction assessed at 6 weeks postpartum (p-value=0.43). Pain scores were higher in both post-implementation groups, but there were no differences in morphine milliequivalents or requirement for breakthrough opioids. Length of stay and maternal infectious morbidity were similar. DISCUSSION: Implementation of ERAC in a large Canadian tertiary care obstetrics unit was feasible and resulted in improved recovery and increased satisfaction in patients undergoing planned CD. There were no differences in other outcomes, including infectious morbidity; however, the contribution of BMI needs to be explored. Patients undergoing unplanned CD face additional challenges related to outcomes, recovery and satisfaction and should be targeted in future studies.

Indexed as

Cesarean SectionEnhanced Recovery After SurgeryQuality ImprovementAdultCanadaFemaleHumansLength of StayPatient SatisfactionPregnancyCesarean deliveryObstetrics and gynecologyPatient Care BundlesQuality improvementSurgery

Identifiers

PMID40738508
PMCPMC12314953

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.