Enhanced recovery after surgery multimodality pain regimen performs similar to PRN narcotics on outcomes and pain control after cardiac surgery: A quality improvement project.

Background: While enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have been successfully applied for cardiac surgery, there has been limited research directly comparing ERAS protocols to ad hoc narcotic use after surgery. We hypothesized that a standardized ERAS protocol would provide similar pain management and psychoemotional outcomes while decreasing the use of opioids in the hospital and after discharge.

Methods: As part of a 7-month quality improvement project, cardiac surgery patients on a fast-tracked to extubate pathway were assigned pro re nata (PRN) narcotic pain management for 3 months (n = 49).