Race and Outcomes in Congenital Cardiac Patients in an Enhanced Recovery Program

Abstract

Objectives

Disparities in perioperative outcomes exist. In addition to patient and socioeconomic factors, racial disparities in outcome measures may be related to issues at the provider and institutional levels. Recognizing a potential role of standardized care in mitigating provider bias, this study aims to compare the perioperative sedation and pain management and consequent outcomes in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) cardiac patients of different races undergoing congenital heart surgery at a single quaternary children's hospital.

Design

A retrospective study.

Setting

A single quaternary pediatric hospital.

Participants

Patients, infants to adults, undergoing elective congenital cardiac surgery and enrolled in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol from October 2018 to December 2020.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

872 patients were reviewed and 606 patients with race information were analyzed. There was no significant difference in intraoperative and postoperative oral morphine equivalent (OME), perioperative sedatives; and regional blockade in Asian or African American patients when compared to White patients. Postoperative pain scores and outcomes among African American and Asian races were also not statistically different when compared to White.

Conclusions

Racial disparity in perioperative management and outcomes in patients with standardized ERAS protocols does not exist at our institution. Future comparative studies of ERAS non-cardiac patients may provide additional information on the role of standardization in reducing implicit bias.