[Urologic laparoscopy in day hospital]

Thanks to the less invasiveness that is the limitation of the surgical trauma, the utilization of laparoscopic techniques for managing a wide range of urological disorders has vastly expanded over the past five years. The advantages of less postoperative pain, shorter convalescence and decreased analgesic use collide with the high costs and the necessity of a proper training. Few cases are reported in the literature about urological laparoscopic procedures performed on an outpatient basis. This is due to the requirement of the general anesthesia in most cases with prolonged operative and anesthesiological times. Urological laparoscopic procedures are applicable on an outpatient basis only if the length of the surgery is less than two hours and the patients are able to collaborate and without concurrent medical problems. Therefore we think that the urological laparoscopic diagnostic procedures feasible on an outpatient basis could be: pelvic lymphadenectomy, identification of intra-abdominal testis and intersex, renal biopsy. Varicocelectomy, intra-abdominal orchiectomy, renal cyst resection, pelvic lymphocelectomy and bladder neck suspension can be performed as same-day surgery. We emphasize that the appropriate patient selection is critical: the ability of the patient and his family to care for the patient at home following surgery is of paramount importance in the decision to proceed with outpatient surgery. The availability of appropriately trained and experienced doctors and nurses are crucial for the potential postoperative complications.