Day surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy: initial experience in 43 consecutive patients

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a common surgical procedure.
• Day-case surgery models aim to reduce hospital stays and costs.
• Evaluating the feasibility and outcomes of day-case LC is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical outcomes, unexpected admissions, readmissions, and patient satisfaction of early day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DSLC) experiences.
• To assess the safety and efficiency of DSLC in a single laparoscopic unit.

Main Methods:

• A consecutive series of 200 patients undergoing LC were analyzed over three years.
• Exclusion criteria included emergency procedures and combined surgeries.
• 147 patients underwent elective LC, with 43 scheduled for DSLC.

Main Results:

• Six patients (13.9%) required inpatient admission for observation.
• The readmission rate was 2.3%.
• Patient satisfaction was high, with 95.3% reporting complete satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Day-case LC is feasible and safe for selected patients when combined with careful patient education and well-trained surgical teams.
• Effective pain and nausea management, along with clear discharge criteria, are vital for minimizing admissions.
• DSLC offers significant potential for reducing hospital costs (approx. 41%) and improving patient satisfaction, though cultural acceptance and staff training are key factors for widespread adoption.