Table 5.

Summary of early discharge criteria from spine Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols.

ERAS Study	Surgical Procedure	Discharge Criteria
Scanlon and Richards,19 2004	Lumbar laminectomy for discectomy	PACU stay of at least 4 hr Respiratory, energy, alertness, circulation, and temperature (REACT) score Controlled nausea and/or vomiting Controlled pain managed with oral medications Has ambulated and is steady on feet Stable neurologic status Stable hemodynamic status Has voided Ride is available to take patient home Discharge instruction provided to patient and caregiver Neurosurgeon and anesthesiologist each approve discharge
Bradywood et al,22 2017	Lumbar spinal fusion	Has had x-rays Has passed gas Understands medications Understands activity limitations and use of the brace Understands where to go next Understands f/u plan Has had all questions and concerns addressed
Debono et al,23 2017	Lumbar microdiscectomy	Patients discharged upon reaching a score of 9 on the Chung Post-Anesthetic Discharge Scoring System
Debono et al,33 2019	ACDF, ALIF, PLIF	Patients discharged upon reaching a score of 9 on the Chung Post-Anesthetic Discharge Scoring System
Soffin et al,37 2019	ACDF and CDA	5 hr of observation in PACU, after which patient evaluated for discharged by anesthesia using Aldrete criteria (tolerating regular diet, ambulating without assistance, adequate pain control on oral analgesics, clear understanding of f/u plan, contact details in case of event/questions/complications)
Soffin et al,38 2019	Lumbar decompression (laminectomy, laminotomy, microdiscectomy)	Discharge from PACU when patients achieved a modified Aldrete score ≥9

Abbreviations: ACDF, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion; ALIF, anterior lumbar interbody fusion; CDA, cervical disc arthroplasty; f/u, follow-up; PACU, postanesthesia care unit; PLIF, posterior lumbar interbody fusion.