title: Feasibility of day care surgery in proctology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proctological surgery is being carried out increasingly on an outpatient basis. The reasons for this are safe anesthetic procedures, short operation times and low complication rates. This study is a retrospective analysis of complication rates, symptom recurrence and long-term results according to outpatient proctologic surgery practiced in our hospital in the last 10 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2840 patients were operated and followed up. The procedures included hemorrhoidectomy, anal fistulotomy, sphincterotomy, and removal of rectal polyps, pilonidal sinotomy and anal stricturotomy. Procedures were performed either under short-term general anesthesia or regional block.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean hospital stay was 7.3 hours (range 4-21 hours). The overall complication rate was 2.5%, which included bleeding, urinary retention, infection, continence disturbance and recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outpatient proctological surgery can be safely performed with a low recurrence and complication rate while offering a high level of patient acceptance and satisfaction. However, an appropriate diagnosis of the disease, proper selection of the patients with respect to their suitability for surgery and a round-the-clock availability of patient communication with the nursing staff are a must for the successful outcome of the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Gupta Nursing Home, Nagpur, India. drpjg_ngp@sancharnet.in
authors.forename: Pravin J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult