Early Diet Liberalization After Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Improves Postoperative Recovery: Study

• Demographic data (age, sex, race, ethnicity, BMI, diabetes, smoking status, CCI) was similar amongst both groups other than a greater percentage of male patients in the “Full Diet” group (61.8% vs 45.0%, P = .004)

• All other patients had a delay of at least 1 day (average 1.6 days) until a full diet was provided. This group was found to have a higher rate of postoperative ileus (10.2% vs 2.9%) and urinary retention (16.0% vs 3.9%).

• The readmission rate and percent of patients presenting to the emergency department within 90 days postoperatively were similar.

• On multivariate regression analysis, same-day, full-diet patients had decreased odds of developing urinary retention (OR = .17) and a shorter length of hospital stay (Estimate: -.99).

• Immediate full diet had no impact on the development of ileus (OR: .33).

The authors concluded – “An immediate postoperative full diet following an anterior approach to the lumbar spine was not found to be associated with an increased risk of postoperative ileus in patients deemed appropriate for early diet liberalization. Moreover, an early full diet was found to reduce length of hospitalization and risk of postoperative urinary retention. Reconsideration of postoperative diet protocols may help optimize patient outcomes and recovery.”

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Further reading:

Early Diet Liberalization after Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Improves Postoperative Recover Tiffany Bridges et al Global Spine Journal DOI: 10.1177/21925682231223461