Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Four years of experience.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of an ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy program.


METHODS
Prospective analysis of ambulatory cases, overnight stay percentage, unexpected admission rate, postoperative complications and readmissions.


METHODS
271 consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.


RESULTS
Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy was completed in 193 out of 271 patients, reaching a 71.2 percent for the whole series. Ambulatory patients increased along with the experience of the team from a 22.9 percent in 1997 to 91.4 per cent in 2000. Sixty four patients (23.6%) had to be hospitalized overnight. Finally 14 patients had to be admitted (5.2%). The percentage of postoperative complications was 7.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe procedure with no increase in morbidity that can be performed in up to 90 per cent of patients.
Serralta
A
A
Instituto de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo (ICAD), Clínica Quirón, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez 14, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
García-Espinosa
R
R
Martínez-Casañ
P
P
Hoyas
L
L
Planells
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors