Feasibility of fast track discharge in breast cancer patients undergoing definitive surgery and impact on quality of life: a prospective study from tertiary care center in India.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and impact of fast track discharge in patients undergoing definitive breast cancer surgery.


METHODS
One hundred six breast cancer patients older than 20 years of age were assigned to undergo definitive breast cancer surgery. It was ensured that enrolled patients had a ready access to hospital, reasonable home circumstances. They were assessed by using post-anesthesia discharge scoring system (PADSS) for fast track discharge. Quality of life both in preoperative and postoperative period was assessed by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast cancer version 4 (FACT-B4) questionnaires.


RESULTS
Overall 90 patients (84.9%) were fit for fast track discharge. Eighty-nine patients (83.96%) were successfully discharged within 48 hr. One patient (0.94%) could not be discharged despite being fit as she was of concern that it would put too much responsibility on the family. Mean duration of postoperative hospital stay in patients fit for fast track surgery was 42.27 ± 5.73 hr with a median of 44 hr. All patients undergoing breast conservation could be discharged on fast track basis with a mean postoperative hospital stay of 32.12 hr.


CONCLUSIONS
Fast track discharges in breast cancer patients after definitive surgery are feasible in Indian setting.
Department of Surgical Disciplines, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Shiv Shankar
SS
Paswan
Kamal
K
Kataria
Rajinder
R
Parshad
Anurag
A
Srivastava
Vuthaluru
V
Seenu
Biplab
B
Mishra
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007902:Length of Stay; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
breast cancer; fast track discharge; quality of life