J Minim Invasive Surg.  2019 Jun;22(2):69-74. 10.7602/jmis.2019.22.2.69.

Appropriate Hospital Discharge Timing after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Comparison of Postoperative Day 1 vs. Day 2 Discharge Protocol

• Park JW
• Kim M
• Lee SK

• KMID: 2450260
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7602/jmis.2019.22.2.69

Abstract

PURPOSE
The critical pathway (CP) was introduced as a means to provide quality healthcare service in many fields of surgery. CP may increase the patient's satisfaction rate and lowering hospital stay and medical cost also. We aimed to compare the two kinds of CP applied in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients by different hospital stay length.
METHODS
From March 2016 to October 2016, 71 patients were enrolled in this analysis among 241 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were divided into two groups, 38 patients in the 1-day CP group and 33 patients in the 2-day CP group. In a retrospective review, surgical outcomes and related hospital costs were analyzed.
RESULTS
Preoperative characteristics were not different between two CP groups. In analysis of operative outcome, 2-day CP group showed longer operative time than 1-day CP (73.4 vs 54.1 min, p<0.001); otherwise, there was no significant difference in frequency of postop complications (6.1% vs 2.6%, p=0.474), numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score (1.82 vs 2.16, p=0.052), and count of analgesics injection (0.12 vs 0.16, p=0.754). Total admission cost and actual patient's expenditures were higher in 2-day CP group, but there was no statistically significant difference (347.04 vs 306.69×104 won, p=0.106; 147.85 vs 125.58×104 won, p=0.276).
CONCLUSION
The length of hospital stay was shortened in 1-day CP group than in 2-day CP group, while there was no difference in other parameters. Therefore, it is feasible and safe practical policy the use 1-day CP in selected patients who undergo cholecystectomy according to our results.

Keyword

Cholecystectomy; Laparoscopic; Critical pathways; Hospital costs

MeSH Terms

Analgesics
Cholecystectomy
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic*
Critical Pathways
Delivery of Health Care
Health Expenditures
Hospital Costs
Humans
Length of Stay
Operative Time
Retrospective Studies
Analgesics