title: Outpatient hemithyroidectomy.
abstract: Outpatient surgery consists of performing an elective surgical procedure in the context of a day-only admission. This type of management is the result of sociological changes and allows a reduction of the cost. Hemithyroidectomy is a well-defined surgical procedure with known complications. The authors assessed the feasibility, patient satisfaction and cost of outpatient hemithyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-six hemithyroidectomies were performed between August 2011 and September 2012. Inclusion criteria for outpatient surgery were surgical, anaesthetic and patient-dependent. Exclusion criteria were related to the bleeding risk, socio-economic conditions and the patient's understanding of the procedure. Preoperative information and the modalities of anaesthesia, surgery, postoperative surveillance and follow-up were standardized. Patient satisfaction was evaluated by questionnaire and cost was evaluated on the basis of medical information department data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients were eligible and 34 patients agreed to outpatient surgery (M/F sex ratio: 1/4; mean age: 46 ± 6.3 years), but only 32 operations were performed on an outpatient basis. Two conversions to conventional hospitalisation were required, one because of preoperative initiation of platelet anti-aggregants and the other because of nausea. One patient remained in hospital on the day after the operation because of severe asthenia and nausea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients were satisfied with this type of management and 100% of them reported that they would repeat the experience. The economy for our establishment was €711 per patient. This procedure improves patient comfort without increasing the risks and allows a reduction of management costs.
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital Morvan, CHRU, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France; EA 4685 Laboratoire de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Brest, 5, avenue Foch, 29609 Brest cedex, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital Morvan, CHRU, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Potard
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital Morvan, CHRU, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clodic
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital Morvan, CHRU, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mornet
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital Morvan, CHRU, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valette
authors.affiliation: Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, hôpital Morvan, CHRU, 2, avenue Foch, 29200 Brest, France. Electronic address: remi.marianowski@chu-brest.fr.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marianowski
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Cost; Hemithyroidectomy; Outpatient; Quality of life