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Outpatient ENT surgery in an academic center: one and a half year's experience
C Monnard1, D Soldati, P Monnier
1Clinique ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, CHU Vaudois, Lausanne, Suisse.
Unlabelled:
OBJECTIVE/PROBLEM: Evaluation of the early phase of an ENT outpatient surgery programme.
Study Design:
Between May 1995 and December 1996, 452 ENT outpatient operations were carried out on 416 patients. In order to determine the patients' satisfaction as well as the types and frequency of complications associated with ambulatory procedures, an 18 item multiple choice questionnaire was sent to all patients.
Results:
Replies were received from almost 80% of the patients. The great majority of patients were satisfied with their operation and would recommend it to friends and relatives. Ten percent of the patients had to be hospitalised for longer than originally expected. The reasons for these prolonged stays are described.
Conclusions:
Our results show that procedures performed on an outpatient basis do not differ from similar in patient procedures with regard to the types and frequency of complications. Medical expenses are reduced from 200-400% depending on the type of operation. In the present climate of tighter economic controls, the feasibility of lowering medical costs substantially without compromising patient care deserves our utmost attention.