Surgeon Perception of Gastric Decompression at Time of Gynecologic Laparoscopy

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways are a framework for management before, during, and after surgery that has demonstrated several benefits from a cost, complication, and satisfaction standpoint. In the field of gynecologic surgery, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends utilization of these pathways with particular emphasis on the importance of implementation of multiple components together. A literature review of 47 ERAS programs specific to obstetrics and gynecology (requiring at least four individual components of ERAS for inclusion) overall supported its use, however, recommended randomized control trials to evaluate each component of the pathway.

One component of the ERAS pathway includes gastric decompression in the perioperative setting. In 1999, before the advent of ERAS, an anesthesiologist recommended routine use of intraoperative gastric decompression to reduce risk of gastric perforation, citing laparoscopic general surgery anesthesia recommendations from 1993. The general surgery paper highlights the possibility for unintentional gastric distention with mask ventilation prior to anesthesia induction with associated increased risk of trocar injury, however, does not discuss incidence or rates of this phenomena. There is discussion of an association with increased intraabdominal pressure and regurgitation of gastric contents, however, nasogastric decompression is not addressed within this context.

Indications for nasogastric tube use in general include treatment of ileus, administration of medications, enteral nutrition, and stomach lavage. Currently available anesthesia recommendations include routine use of gastric tubes during induction with general endotracheal anesthesia. Importantly, it is noted that gastric drainage or suction does not remove particulate matter or guarantee full emptying. In fact, one study looking at use of nasogastric intubation after induction of anesthesia found that patients who underwent nasogastric intubation had significant gastroesophageal reflux disease in the perioperative period and a reduced ability to clear refluxed acid from the distal esophagus. Several other studies examining the routine placement of a nasogastric tube following abdominal surgery also found that patients who underwent gastric decompression had higher rates of fever, pneumonia, and other pulmonary complications. In these studies, those with a nasogastric tube had lower rates of emesis, but increased patient discomfort, no significant difference in the rates of nausea, and longer time to return of bowel function. One comparative study from the general surgery literature evaluating nasogastric decompression during open abdominal surgeries included a subgroup without placement at all in the perioperative period. This subgroup demonstrated significantly less events of atelectasis, fever, and patient discomfort. Furthermore, the routine use of gastric decompression is not benign, and some evidence suggests the benefits of routinely avoiding nasogastric intubations outweigh the risks.

Data has shown that early post-operative nasogastric tube discontinuation (including prior to transfer to post-anesthesia care) is associated with faster return to bowel function and decreased rates of postoperative ileus, as well as decreased hospital stay and rates of pulmonary complications. While it is commonplace for recommended ERAS diet status leading up to and after surgery in most institutions, (i.e., elimination of mechanical bowel prep, removal of nasogastric decompression prior to extubation), there is no clinical evidence available to date on utilization of intraoperative gastric decompression specifically for gynecologic laparoscopic cases.

Additionally, nasogastric or orogastric tubes may contribute to high costs of the operating room. On average, a nasogastric tube costs on average 4 dollars and seventy-five cents (based on cost for pack of 10) at this institution according to 2023 supply invoices. In 2022, a call to action in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery urged gynecologic surgeons to consider their role in safe and green practices in the operating room. Evaluating use of routine gastric decompression at time of gynecologic surgery is an opportunity to decrease potential costs and environmental impact.

Within the field of gynecologic oncology, recommendations are against routine nasogastric intubation and for early post-operative removal prior to extubation, however, possible reduction of risk of injury associated with Veress needle or trocar entry are noted. Regarding minimally invasive gynecologic surgery recommendations specifically, the first guidelines in 2020 discussed that patients with normal gastric emptying may intake up to 400 milliliters of clear liquids up to 2 hours prior to anesthesia with an equivalent gastric volume to overnight fasting. Nasogastric decompression was not recommended for prevention of post-operative nausea and vomiting; however, its use was not discussed in terms of prevention of entry injury or prevention of postoperative pneumonia.

Overall, gastric injury is a rare complication of gynecologic surgery estimated to occur less than 0.5% of the time. A systematic review of 28 articles assessed the location and mechanism of gastric injury at the time of gynecologic surgery by analyzing 42 injuries. In the study, 93% of gastric injuries occurred upon entry with the Veress needle, which was used in 79% of cases. There was only one case with nasogastric decompression prior to entry and the location of entry was the left upper quadrant as opposed to the umbilicus.

Given rarity of gastric injury at time of laparoscopic gynecologic surgery and limited to no data regarding purported benefit of intraoperative gastric decompression, particularly regarding reduction of trocar injury rates, its routine use should be examined. Routine use may be associated with harmful potential for post-operative complications including pneumonia, delayed bowel function, and patient discomfort. In 2014, a similar evaluation of routine mechanical bowel preparation at time of laparoscopic hysterectomy demonstrated no difference in surgeon perception of visualization and ability to complete the procedure safely with or without mechanical bowel preparation. Similarly, the paper recognizes the purported benefits of routine mechanical bowel preparation to be largely untested prior to this study and the potential association for harm with patient discomfort and risks without improved surgical outcomes with existing data derived from laparotomies. When examined, both the primary and assistant surgeon had moderate agreement and accurately assessed preoperative bowel preparation a little more than half of the time, indicating that surgeon perception may not be reflective of perioperative measures.

The aim of this study is to examine the routine use of intraoperative gastric decompression during gynecologic laparoscopy. The primary outcome is surgeon perception of visualization of gastric decompression and surgery characteristics. Secondary outcomes are factors associated with patients' post-operative experience such as nausea and vomiting, return of bowel function, and naso- and oro-pharyngeal discomfort. The investigators hypothesize that limiting gastric decompression for specific medical indications as opposed to routine use will not be associated with an increased risk of harm such as gastric injury and poor surgical visualization for gynecologic laparoscopy.