Randomized clinical trial comparing ambulatory and inpatient care after inguinal hernia repair in patients aged 65 years or older.
BACKGROUND
There is a lack of evidence from randomized studies of the feasibility of ambulatory surgery in patients aged 65 years and older.


METHODS
Medically stable patients scheduled for open inguinal hernia repair, with postoperative care available at home, were randomized to receive treatment either as outpatients or inpatients. Younger patients undergoing the same procedure served as a reference group. Outcome measures during the 2 weeks after surgery were complications, unplanned admissions, visits to the hospital, unplanned visits to primary health care, and patients' acceptance of the type of provided care.


RESULTS
Of 151 patients, 89 were included. Main reasons for exclusion were lack of postoperative company (16%), unwillingness to participate (13%), and medical conditions (10%). All outpatients were discharged home as planned, and none of the study patients were readmitted to the hospital. Patient satisfaction was high with no differences between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Ambulatory surgery was safe and well accepted by older, medically stable patients.
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jorvi Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, Espoo, Finland. kristiina.mattila@hus.fi
Kristiina
K
Mattila
Jaana
J
Vironen
Anne
A
Eklund
Vesa K
VK
Kontinen
Markku
M
Hynynen
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome