[Ambulatory laparoscopic colectomy : First experiences at the CHU of Liège]

For many years, enhanced recovery programs (ERP) for colorectal surgery have been developed in many hospitals around the world. Recently, our institution took a new step forward in colonic surgery : ambulatory laparoscopic colectomies.

Our eligibility criteria for our ambulatory colectomy program were defined and our perioperative ERP protocol was adapted to the ambulatory setting. Five patients consented to inclusion in this program.

Patients' characteristics were as follows : four women, one male, age : 48 years (range 21-67); surgical indication : cancer in two patients, diverticulitis in two patients, and Crohn disease in one patient. The surgical site was the left colon in four cases and the right colon in one case. Four out of the five patients left the hospital 5-8 h after the end of the surgery. No postoperative complication occurred, no readmission was necessary.

This article discusses the benefits and risks of ambulatory colectomy. We emphasize that such outpatient management must not be pursued at the expense of the patient's safety and well-being.