Day-case major ear surgery: is it viable?

INTRODUCTION

At present there is a strong emphasis on carrying out more elective day-case surgery. This paper presents a series of major ear cases performed on a day-case basis.

METHOD

This is a retrospective review of outcome. Surgery was performed over 10 years at the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital (part of the East Kent NHS Trust, UK).

RESULTS

Over 10 years 253 major ear cases were performed. The unplanned admission rate for overnight stay was 2.8 per cent and the rate of short-period transfers to in-patient wards (for less than a six-hour stay) was 2 per cent.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience shows that major ear surgery, including mastoidectomy, is safe on a day-case basis in all age groups. With the advent of new anaesthetic agents recovery is faster, and modern anti-emetic cover for post-operative nausea and vomiting makes nearly all such major ear surgery feasible as day-case procedures.