Short stay laparoscopic hysterectomy: An evaluation of feasibility and patient satisfaction

BACKGROUND: Short-stay total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) could lead to reduced hospital costs and decrease complications associated with hospitalisation such as hospital acquired-infection and venous thromboembolism. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and patient satisfaction of a novel short 'less than 23-hour' stay TLH protocol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study, at Birmingham Women's Hospital, United Kingdom including eligible women undergoing TLH for benign indications or early stage cervical/endometrial cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility of discharge within 23-hours following TLH. Surgical complications and readmission rates were collected within 30-days of hysterectomy and patient's satisfaction was assessed at 6-weeks. RESULTS: Of the 128 eligible women, 104/128 women (81%) were discharged within 23-hours of admission, of which 62/104 or 60% (48.4% of the whole cohort) were discharged on the same day. Adenomyosis/fibroids, and previous caesarean sections were associated with a greater likelihood of stay beyond 23-hours (P<0.05). The overall complications rate was 13/128 (10%) with two grade-3 Clavien-Dindo intraoperative complications; one serosal bowel injury oversewn and one ureteric injury requiring reimplantation. The readmissions rate was 5/128 (4%). 94% of patients were 'happy' or 'very happy' with the pathway, although satisfaction was higher in short-stay patients (RR 1.2; 95% CI 0.95-1.94). CONCLUSION: Hospital discharge within 23-hours of TLH appears to be safe, feasible and acceptable to patients where a standardised, multidisciplinary care protocol is used. WHAT IS NEW?: Our study is the first prospective case series in the UK reporting the safety and acceptability for performing laparoscopic hysterectomy as a 23-hour day case procedure.