[Ambulatory mediastinoscopy].
BACKGROUND
The present study was undertaken to investigate the safety of mediastinoscopy as a routine outpatient procedure.


METHODS
We reviewed the first 108 mediastinoscopies performed at our outpatient surgery centre.


RESULTS
During the period, 1996 to 1999, 108 out of 206 (52%) mediastinoscopy patients were admitted to the outpatient surgery centre, and 86 (80%) of these were discharged the same day. These numbers were 86% and 86% for 1999 alone, which reflects acceptance of outpatient surgery. One patient was admitted because of preoperative mediastinal venous bleeding, which required compression for 24 hours, and 19 more patients were admitted without strict medical indications. Two patients were admitted later the same day after discharge, because of minor wound bleeding, which was stopped by infiltration with adrenalin.


CONCLUSIONS
Mediastinoscopy can be performed safely as an outpatient procedure on most patients.
Schousboe
L P
LP
Vejle Sygehus, øre-naese-hals-afdelingen.
Sveigaard
A M
AM
Pedersen
A T
AT
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D003718:Denmark; D006801:Humans; D008481:Mediastinoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D012449:Safety