Factors involved in unplanned admissions from general surgical day-care in a modern protected facility

The aim in this audit study was to identify the rate of and the reasons for unanticipated admissions in general day surgery. All day ward procedures performed during the one year period from January 2011 to January 2012 were reviewed. Of 560 procedures performed, 25 (4.4%) patients were admitted. The age range of the patients admitted was from 26 to 83 years. The average BMI of the admitted patient was 28.9 (range 24-39).The average stay in hospital was 1.7 days (range 1-3 days). The reason for admission was potentially preventable in ten (40%) patients. This included eight (80%) out of ten admissions for control of postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting. Two (20%) were admitted for surgical observation due to high risk of bleeding. Fifteen (60%) of admissions were due to a non-preventable source, including 5 with a drain inserted at a perceived difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 5 for urinary retention post open inguinal hernia repair, 2 for a cardiology review and 2 for further urgent investigations because of an unexpected intraoperative finding of malignancy. The rate of un-planned admission can be reduced by controlling potentially preventable causes, however a small contribution from unexpected scenarios is inevitable.