title: Feasibility of the short hospital stays after laparoscopic appendectomy for uncomplicated appendicitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of short hospital stays after laparoscopic appendectomy for uncomplicated appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 142 patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for uncomplicated appendicitis from January 2010 to December 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were allocated to an early (<48 hours) or a late (>48 hours) group by postoperative hospital stay. Postoperative complications and readmission rates in the two groups were evaluated and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall mean patient age was 50.1 (±16.0) years, and mean hospital stay was 3.8 (±2.8) days. Fifty-four patients (group E, 38.0%) were discharged within 48 hours of surgery, and 88 patients (group L, 62.0%) stayed more than 48 hours. Overall complication rates were similar in the two groups (14.8% vs. 21.6%, p=0.318), and wound complications (13.0% vs. 12.5%), postoperative bowel obstruction (1.9% vs. 2.3%), and abdominal pain (1.9% vs. 3.4%) were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients that undergo laparoscopic appendectomy due to uncomplicated appendicitis may be safely discharged within 48 hours. Further study should be conducted to determine the optimal length of hospital stay after laparoscopic appendectomy to reduce hospital costs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hongjin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jakii@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Jae Gil
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Laparoscopic; appendectomy; complication; hospital stay