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Gastrointestinal complications after fast-track total hip and knee replacement: an observational study in a consecutive 36,932 patient cohort

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  • Louise O.H. Daugberg, Aalborg University, Lundbeck Foundation Centre for Fast-track Hip and Knee Replacement, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
  • ,
  • Henrik Kehlet, University of Copenhagen, Lundbeck Foundation Centre for Fast-track Hip and Knee Replacement
  • ,
  • Pelle B. Petersen, The Lundbeck Centre for Fast-track Hip and Knee Arthroplasty, Copenhagen and Section of Surgical Pathophysiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Lundbeck Foundation Centre for Fast-track Hip and Knee Replacement
  • ,
  • Thomas Jakobsen, Aalborg University, Lundbeck Foundation Centre for Fast-track Hip and Knee Replacement
  • ,
  • Christoffer C. Jørgensen, The Lundbeck Centre for Fast-track Hip and Knee Arthroplasty, Copenhagen and Section of Surgical Pathophysiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen, Lundbeck Foundation Centre for Fast-track Hip and Knee Replacement
  • ,
  • The Lundbeck Foundation Centre for Fast-track Hip and Knee Replacement Collaborative Group

Introduction: Gastrointestinal complications after total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA) have been reported to be between 0.3 and 2.6% with bleeding and C. difficile infection in 0–1%, and 0.1–1.7%, respectively. The use of enhanced recovery or “fast-track” protocols have focused on optimizing all aspects of perioperative care resulting in reduced length of hospital stay (LOS) and potentially also gastrointestinal complications. This study is a detailed analysis on the occurrence of postoperative gastrointestinal complications resulting in increased hospital stay or readmissions in a large consecutive cohort of fast-track THA and TKA with complete 90 days follow-up. Materials and methods: This is an observational study on a consecutive cohort of primary unilateral THAs and TKAs performed between January 2010 and August 2017 in nine Danish high-volume fast-track centers. Discharge summaries and relevant patient records were reviewed in patients with readmissions within 90 days or LOS > 4 days caused by gastrointestinal complications. Results: The cohort included 36,932 patients with 58.3% females and 54.1% THAs. Mean age and BMI were 68 years and 28. Median postoperative LOS was 2 days. Only n: 276 (0.75 %) had a LOS > 4 days or a readmission within 90 days due to a gastrointestinal complication (CI 0.67%–0.84%). Of these, only 34 (0.09%) were graded as severe ileus or gastrointestinal bleeding. Conclusions: The risk of GI-complications within the first 90 postoperative days after fast-track THA and TKA was low (0.75%).

Original languageEnglish
JournalArchives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery
Volume143
Issue10
Pages (from-to)6033-6038
Number of pages6
ISSN0936-8051
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

    Research areas

  • C. difficile, Fast-track, GI-bleed, GI-complications, POI, THA, TKA, Length of Stay, Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/adverse effects, Prospective Studies, Patient Readmission, Humans, Risk Factors, Male, Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects, Postoperative Complications/epidemiology, Gastrointestinal Diseases/complications, Female, Clostridioides difficile

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