Outcomes of Day-Case Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A 55 Cases Report.

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a minimally invasive surgery.     The patient has a fast recovery and needs less post-operative care. Many studies have reported day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DCLC) as a safe and feasible operation. The author presents the outcomes of DCLC performed on 50 gallstone patients in an advanced-level hospital.

Materials and Methods: Between January 2021 and September 2022, 55 patients with gallstone disease who underwent DCLC were retrospectively studied for complications, unplanned admission, re-admission, and reasons for unplanned and re-admission.

Results: There were 41 females and 14 males, with a mean age of 51.8 years. Laparoscopic surgery was accomplished in all 55 cases without conversion to open surgery.  Fifty-two patients (94.6%) could be discharged on an operative day with an average operation-discharge interval of 5 hours (307 min). Three patients (5.4%) were unplanned admissions, due to late surgery (1.8%), wound pain (1.8%), and unwillingness to discharge (1.8%). One patient was re-admitted (1.8%) eight days after surgery due to common bile duct obstruction from bile sludge.

Conclusion: DCLC is a safe procedure and is practicable. Appropriate patient selection, adequate information, flexible hospital service operations, and an effective referral system will decrease unplanned admissions.      

                   Keywords: Day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy, Ambulatory laparoscopic       cholecystectomy, Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy