Initial experience with day case laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a tertiary care hospital in India.

BACKGROUND

Cholecystectomy is one of the commonest general surgical operations. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is currently the most favoured approach. As it is associated with less postoperative pain and ileus, it allows early discharge of patients from the hospital. Studies from the West have reported that 'day case laparoscopic cholecystectomy' is feasible and safe. In India, the current practice is to admit patients for laparoscopic cholecystectomy 24-48 hours prior to surgery and to discharge most patients within one to two days of surgery. There is no report from any Indian centre describing 'day case laparoscopic cholecystectomy'. We conducted a prospective study to assess the feasibility, safety and patients' acceptance of 'day case laparoscopic cholecystectomy' in a tertiary care hospital.

METHODS

Eighty-four patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis, aged less than 65 years with ASA grade I and II, were offered day case laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Seventy-four patients consented to be included in the study. The nature of operation and likely postoperative course were explained in detail to the patients. Conventional 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy was attempted in all patients. The main outcome measures assessed were successful management of patients on day case basis and its acceptance by the patients.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight (92%) patients underwent successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Fifty-five of these (81%) were successfully managed as day case procedures. There were no major complications. Three of the 55 patients (5.4%) needed re-admission and could be managed conservatively. Fifty-three (96%) patients described their experience as 'pleasant'. None of them described their experience to be 'unpleasant' or 'bad'. Fifty-four (98%) patients stated that they would recommend day case laparoscopic cholecystectomy to close friends and relatives.

CONCLUSION

In selected patients, day case laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and feasible in a developing country.