Laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a day surgery procedure: is it safe?--an egyptian experience

Major surgery performed as a day surgery procedure is not uncommon. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of day surgery procedures in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

A total of 210 patients scheduled for elective LC between 2006 and 2008 were included in our study. The mean age was 40.63 years (range, 25 - 70 years). The indication for surgery was symptomatic cholelithiasis confirmed by ultrasonography without clinical or radiological evidence of acute cholecystitis. All patients were informed about the same-day discharge policy and received the postoperative instruction form on discharge. Preoperative work-up included history taking and physical examination in addition to standard laboratory and radiological tests. Patients above 35 years of age had an ECG done. All patients were examined in the outpatient clinic by a consultant anesthesiologist the night before surgery. Operative time, hospital stay, and complications were recorded. Telephonic feedback, on the morning after surgery was routinely done as an early follow-up.

Out of the total number of patients, 140 patients were ASA (I) and 70 were ASA (II) (40 patients were controlled hypertensives and 30 were controlled diabetics). Conversion rate was 1.4%. The mean hospital stay was 6.7 hours (range, 6 - 8 hours). The mean operative time was 31.2 minutes (range, 20 - 60 minutes). None of the patients required an abdominal drain. No morbidities or mortalities were reported in this series.

LC may be done as a day surgery procedure with optimal patient satisfaction and without complications.