Day-case major ear surgery: is it viable?
BACKGROUND
At present there is a strong emphasis on carrying out more elective day-case surgery. This paper presents a series of major ear cases performed on a day-case basis.


METHODS
This is a retrospective review of outcome. Surgery was performed over 10 years at the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital (part of the East Kent NHS Trust, UK).


RESULTS
Over 10 years 253 major ear cases were performed. The unplanned admission rate for overnight stay was 2.8 per cent and the rate of short-period transfers to in-patient wards (for less than a six-hour stay) was 2 per cent.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience shows that major ear surgery, including mastoidectomy, is safe on a day-case basis in all age groups. With the advent of new anaesthetic agents recovery is faster, and modern anti-emetic cover for post-operative nausea and vomiting makes nearly all such major ear surgery feasible as day-case procedures.
Qureshi
Abdul A
AA
Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital (RNTNE), London, UK. aa_qur@yahoo.co.uk
Padgham
Nigel D
ND
Jiang
Dan
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004423:Ear / Q000601:surgery; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000777:Anesthetics