Dollars and cents: minicholecystectomy and early discharge.

We present minicholecystectomy as a means of cost containment and discharge from the hospital 24 to 48 hours later. Among 450 patients undergoing this form of cholecystectomy through a 4 cm incision, only 49 stayed longer than an average of 1.2 days; all of those patients had preexisting surgical problems, some of which were corrected concurrently. Forty-two patients were admitted on the morning of the day of operation and stayed an average of 1.07 days. The mortality was 1/450 (0.2%); the complication rate was 3.1%. We have found the shorter and earlier procedure an excellent and safe means of cost containment and recommend that earlier discharge be considered for other procedures as well.