[Women's preferences for early discharge after conservative breast surgery: feasibility, patient profile and satisfaction].
OBJECTIVE
Ours aims were to assess the feasibility of short stay after conservative breast surgery when giving the choice to women, to identify women characteristics associated to short (less than 48 hours) or conventional stay and to confront satisfaction and anxiety of the two groups.


METHODS
Women were able to choice the length of stay immediately after surgery. Afterwards they completed a questionnaire measuring pain, anxiety and satisfaction. Clinical data concerning surgery were also collected.


RESULTS
The hospital stay was short for 114 women (75.5%) and conventional for 37 women (24.5%). Length of stay was related to education level (P = 0,021), general health status (ASA score) (P = 0,003), breast pain (P = 0,001), the number of wound drains (P = 0,005), cancer (P = 0,001) and satisfaction about hospitalisation (P = 0,022). Post-surgical morbidity was similar between groups, except prolonged axillary drainage more frequent in conventional stay group.


CONCLUSIONS
Women often chose a short stay after breast conservative surgery. This procedure is feasible routinely without heavy complication. Women preference for a short stay is real and could be improved by a better organisation, which ensure the continuity of care between hospital and home, with satisfaction assessment.
Arnaud
S
S
INSERM U379, institut Paoli-Calmettes, 232, boulevard Sainte-Marguerite, 13273 Marseille, France. arnaud@marseille.inserm.fr
Houvenaeghel
G
G
Julian-Reynier
C
C
Protière
C
C
Moatti
J P
JP
D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004522:Educational Status; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010351:Patient Discharge; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*