Return to work after general surgery: A comparative study.
OBJECTIVE
There is scarce information on the time to return to work after general surgery. The aim of this study was to analyze time off work after elective cholecystectomy and to compare the results with those in patients undergoing other surgical interventions.


METHODS
Observational and comparative study. Inclusion criteria were: being of working age and undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (group 1) or unilateral inguinal hernia or haemorrhoidectomy (group 2).


RESULTS
36 patients were included: 18 patients in each group. Overall, return to work occurred at a mean of 35.7 days, with no significant differences (p=0.656) between groups (group 1: 36.6 days vs. group 2: 35.44 days). The reasons for not returning to work earlier were fear of complications (37.5%), pain control (37.5%), surgeon recommendation (12.5%), and general practitioner recommendation (12.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Time to recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is prolonged. No statistically significant differences with less complex surgical procedures were detected.
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
J
J
Hermoso
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
E
E
Duran
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
C
C
Sanchez-Pradell
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
J
J
Comajuncosas
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
P
P
Gris
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
J
J
Jimeno
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
R
R
Orbeal
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
H
H
Vallverdú
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
J
J
Urgellés
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
J-L
JL
Lopez-Negre
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
L
L
Estalella
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: david.pares@pssjd.org.
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D
Parés
D000328:Adult; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D015897:Comorbidity; D003376:Counseling; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D061865:Hemorrhoidectomy; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D062707:Return to Work; D066231:Surgeons; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Cirugía general; General surgery; Inguinal Hernia; Inguinal hernia; Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Laparoscópico Colecistectomía; Regreso al trabajo; Return to work