Postoperative predictors of early discharge following laparoscopic segmental colectomy

There is increasing pressure to shorten length of stay (LOS) after major surgical procedures. Although laparoscopic colectomy has been shown to have shorter LOS than open colectomy, not all patients experience a short length of stay. Predictive factors for early discharge after laparoscopic colectomy have not been clearly defined. We hypothesized that patients who exhibit a brisk urine output and lack of a systemic inflammatory response on the first postoperative day would experience a shorter postoperative stay after laparoscopic colectomy.

We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing laparoscopic segmental colectomy by one of colorectal surgeons from 2012 to 2013. Patient demographics, operative characteristics, and postoperative factors were examined. A multiple linear regression model was used to examine the impact of various factors on length of stay, while controlling for confounding variables. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was defined using Society of Critical Care Medicine consensus definitions.

A total of 127 patients underwent a laparoscopic segmental colectomy. When controlling for confounding variables, ileus, postoperative complication, and SIRS response were associated with 2.67, 1.16, and 0.42 additional hospital days, respectively, while each additional liter of urine output on postoperative day 1 was associated with a 0.23-day decrease in LOS (p = 0.006).

In the absence of postoperative ileus or overt complication, patients who do not exhibit a SIRS response, and have a brisk urine output on postoperative day (POD) 1, may be targeted for early hospital discharge after laparoscopic colectomy.