[Results of ambulatory major surgery in urology, within an integrated unit].
OBJECTIVE
To contribute our experience in the performance of ambulatory major surgery, through the creation of an integrated unit. Such units take advantage of existing resources both in terms of space and materials, as well as personnel, without the need to open separate ambulatory major surgery units that would involve greater resources expenditure.


METHODS
48 patients undergoing ambulatory major urology surgery were analyzed. The patients were admitted the same morning of the procedure and then, after leaving the operating theatre, they were moved to the reanimation room and later to the urology ward, where they were evaluated by the urologist on duty and discharged. A few days later the patients returned to the outpatient's clinic for re-evaluation.


RESULTS
48 patients underwent surgery, 44 male and 4 female. Mean age of patients was 34 (3-86) years. The procedures most frequently performed were: hydrocelectomy, vaginal peritoneum duct closure, orchiopexy, ureterorenoscopy due to ureteral lithiasis, internal urethrotomy, varicocelectomy, vesical tumor resection and circumcision in children. Only in two cases, hospital stay was longer than 12 hours and there was only one re-admission.


CONCLUSIONS
Ambulatory major surgery integrated units may allow to perform this type of surgery in small units, with little resources and with a volume of patients not sufficient to create an independent unit.
Valero Puerta
J A
JA
Servicio de Urología, Hospital de la Merced, Osuna, Sevilla.
Medina Pérez
M
M
Guerrero Guerra
J L
JL
Ballesteros Moreno
A
A
Valpuesta Fernández
I
I
Sánchez González
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures; D014573:Urology Department, Hospital