Direct access surgery for cholecystectomy - can we speed up the process?

Area of Science:

• Surgical pathway optimization
• Health services research
• Patient-centered care

Background:

• Direct referral from general practitioners (GPs) to surgery can enhance efficiency by bypassing pre-operative clinic assessments for suitable patients.
• This study evaluated the feasibility and patient satisfaction of a direct access cholecystectomy pathway for symptomatic gallstones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the viability of a direct access cholecystectomy pathway.
• To measure patient satisfaction with the direct access surgical process.

Main Methods:

• General practitioners referred eligible patients (ASA 1-2, BMI <35, <60 years) with symptomatic cholelithiasis directly to a surgical list.
• Patients received information, completed questionnaires, and underwent same-day cholecystectomy, with GP-led post-operative care.

Main Results:

• The direct access pathway reduced waiting times from 120 to 59.3 days.
• 86% of procedures were day-stay, and 85% of patients felt informed and satisfied.
• 8% of patients experienced recurrent pain within a year, requiring further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Direct Access Surgery effectively streamlines access to surgical procedures for appropriate, healthy patients.
• The pathway demonstrates efficiency and positive patient outcomes in cholecystectomy cases.