Short-stay surgery experience with laparoscopic appendicectomy in Ibadan

Introduction: Laparoscopic appendectomy is becoming accepted as the standard treatment for uncomplicated appendicitis. Appendicectomy consumes a significant portion of hospital resources and also disrupts routine life style of the patients' families; reduction in hospital stay will minimize hospital cost and disruption of the household life style. This study presents our initial experience with short-stay laparoscopic appendicectomy. Methods: This is an observational study from January 2012 to December 2012. The exclusion criteria included patients less than 16 years of age (pediatric patients), elderly patients (60 years and above), and obese patients. The patients were admitted on the evening of surgery and discharged as soon as they were fit for discharge based on the protocol. Results: Twenty patients fulfilled the selection criteria, but only 11 patients consented consisting of four females and seven males. Age range was 16-42 years with a mean of 22 ± 8.15 standard deviation (SD). There was one conversion to open surgery due to an ileocecal. The duration of surgery ranged from 45 to 110 min with a mean operation time of 50 ± 18.03 SD min. Five patients were discharged in the evening about 7-8 h after the surgery. Three patients were discharged home early the next day Conclusion: Short-stay surgery is safe and may become a standard protocol in future. Reduction in appropriate duration of hospital admission requires hospital organization.