Evaluating the Effects of Alvimopan, Liposomal Bupivacaine and Intravenous Acetaminophen in Colorectal Surgery Patients

Abstract

Objectives: To determine if the addition of oral alvimopan, liposomal bupivacaine and intravenous acetaminophen as part of a comprehensive enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program decreases length of stay, recovery time and narcotic/acetaminophen use without affecting colorectal surgery patient outcomes. Methods: Patients were compared before and after the implementation of alvimopan, liposomal bupivacaine and intravenous acetaminophen with an ERAS program. The primary outcome was hospital length of stay (measured in hours). Secondary outcomes included change in time to first meal, bowel sounds, and bowel movement (measured in hours), pain scores (visual analog scale 0-10), opioid use (measured in morphine equivalent milligrams), and acetaminophen use (measured in mg). Results: Thirty-seven individuals were included in the pre implementation population and fifty one patients were included in the post implementation population. The mean length of stay decreased from 124.3 hours to 100.2 hours (P equals 0.13) with the addition of the ERAS program with the three medications. The 24 hour morphine equivalent intervals for seventy-two hours following surgery decreased from 125.8 mg (day 1), 81.9 mg (day 2) and 44.5 mg (day 3) to 44.3 mg (day 1), 22.8 mg (day 2) and 13.2 mg (day 3) (P less than 0.005 for each one). Conclusions: The addition of alvimopan, liposomal bupivacaine and intravenous acetaminophen as part of a comprehensive ERAS program decreased length of stay but not significantly. However, the addition of these three medications with the ERAS program changes was associated with a statistically significant decrease in opioid use.