Feasibility of day-care open cholecystectomy: evaluation in an inpatient model.
BACKGROUND
Open cholecystectomy is still a fairly frequently performed operation worldwide, and is used where laparoscopic surgery has failed or is contraindicated, and where some surgeons do not operate laparoscopically for technical reasons. In developing countries laparoscopic cholecystectomy is costly and is available only in a few centres. The present study was conducted to assess the feasibility of day-care open cholecystectomy using an inpatient model.


METHODS
Thirty patients were subjected to open cholecystectomy. Intraoperative nasogastric decompression and local wound infiltration with 0.25% bupivacaine was carried out. Postoperatively patients were encouraged to be ambulant, pass urine and start oral fluids. Intravenous fluids and parenteral medication were stopped at 8 p.m. when patients were assessed for feasibility for discharge. All patients were reassessed the next morning for any adverse effects that could have occurred had the patients been discharged on the evening of surgery.


RESULTS
Prospectively, 73.3% of patients were considered to be dischargeable on the evening of surgery; but on reassessment the next morning, retrospectively, 93.3% of patients were actually dischargeable on the evening of surgery. A total of 76.6% of patients was actually discharged within 24 h of surgery. No patient required readmission. On follow up there were no complications that could be attributable to early discharge. A total of 83.3% of patients approved of day-care open cholecystectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Day-care open cholecystectomy is safe and feasible. In developing countries, where the use of laparoscopic surgery is limited due to resource constraints, day-care open cholecystectomy can lead to substantial savings in health-care resources.
Thomas
S
S
Department of Surgery, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, New Delhi, India. drshajithomas@yahoo.com
Singh
J
J
Bishnoi
P K
PK
Kumar
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D003906:Developing Countries; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010359:Patient Readmission; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery