title: Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy and pain control: a series of 100 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present our experience of 100 consecutive cases that underwent ambulatory cholecystectomy using a standard protocol of anesthesia and surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of 100 consecutive patients assessed in the surgery outpatient clinic in Torrevieja Hospital (September 2008-september 2009). Both anesthetic and surgical techniques were protocolized, standardized. The protocol included the use of intraperitoneal and parietal anesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred patients were included. Average age was 53 years and average surgical time was 29±12 min. Day-case surgery rate was 96%. Postoperative pain (VAS scale) was less than 4 in all cases. Six patients complained of nausea that eased with the administration of ev metoclopramide. Average length of stay in the day-case surgery unit was 7.4h (maximum 9.6, minimum 7). Morbidity and mortality rates were 0%. No re-admission was registered and conversion rate was 0%. Postoperative follow-up was 100%. A total of 97% of the cases were fully satisfied with the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe technique. Postoperative pain has classically been the reason to not perform day-case surgery, but we achieved an excellent control by the combined use of local anesthetics and warm intraperitoneal saline solution.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General y Digestiva, Hospital Marina Baixa, Alicante, España. Electronic address: montieljf@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Montiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiménez Fuertes
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General y Digestiva, Hospital Marina Baixa, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Costa Navarro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000758:Anesthesia; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Cholelithiasis; Cirugía mayor ambulatoria; Colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria; Colelitiasis; Major ambulatory surgery; Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy