Day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy: analysis of the factors allowing early discharge

Despite a number of studies have already demonstrated that majority of patients can be safely discharged early after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, this approach did not gain widespread diffusion yet. The present study was set up to assess safety and feasibility of 24 h or same-day discharge after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and to identify the prognostic factors. Perioperative variables of 229 patients undergoing cholecystectomy have been analyzed. Primary endpoints were: postoperative length of stay, rate of patients discharged within 24 h, and rate of those discharged on the same day. Secondary endpoints were rate of 30-day readmission and rate of 30-day postoperative complications. Two-hundred twenty-three cases have been started by laparoscopy. Conversion rate was 3.1%. Overall mean postoperative stay was 1.8 ± 3.5 days (median 1 day). Seventy-eight percent of patients have been discharged within 24 h, and 22.3% have been discharged on the same day. Postoperative morbidity was 2.2%. Readmission rate was 3.9%. At univariate analysis, factors related to early discharge were age (more or less than 65), diagnosis (simple symptomatic gallstones vs complicated gallstones), ASA score, timing of operation (elective vs emergency), history of CBD stones, laparoscopic operation, and use of drain. No single factor was significantly related to readmission rate, but the use of drains in laparoscopic cases. At multivariate analysis, only elective operation, simple symptomatic gallstones, no history of CBD stones, laparoscopic approach, and no abdominal drain resulted independently associated with discharge within 24 h from the operation. The predictive models are all fit and significant. Early postoperative discharge within 24 h should be considered in all patients with simple symptomatic gallstones who had laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Same-day discharge should be considered if no drain was left at the end of the operation.