David R Rosen1, Kenji Inaba2, Paul J Oh2, Adam C Gutierrez2, Aaron M Strumwasser2, Subarna Biswas2, Melody Cala2, Glenn T Ault3. 1. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Electronic address: David.Rosen@med.usc.edu. 2. Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, LAC+USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA. 3. Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Outpatient laparoscopic appendectomy is being used increasingly as a treatment option for acute, uncomplicated appendicitis. This was a prospective validation study in a large, urban, public safety-net hospital. STUDY DESIGN: From 2014 to 2016, all patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy for acute, uncomplicated appendicitis were enrolled in a prospective observational trial. Standard baseline perioperative practice (control group) was documented for 1 year. An outpatient appendectomy protocol was then introduced. Inclusion criteria required intraoperative confirmation of uncomplicated appendicitis and strict discharge criteria, including physician assessment before discharge. Data collection then continued for 1 year (outpatient group). The outcomes measures examined included complications, length of stay, nursing transitions, emergency department visits, readmissions, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The study enrolled 351 patients (178 control, 173 outpatient). Of the 173 candidates for outpatient appendectomy, 113 went home. Reasons for admission included surgeon discretion due to intraoperative findings/medical comorbidities and lack of transportation home. The outpatient group had shorter operative time (69 vs 83 minutes; p < 0.001), longer time in recovery (242 vs 141 minutes; p < 0.001), fewer nursing transitions (4 vs 5; p < 0.001), and shorter postoperative length of stay (9 vs 19 hours; p < 0.001). There was no difference in complications, emergency department visits, or readmissions. In the outpatient group, none of the patients sent home from recovery had postoperative complications or required readmission. Satisfaction surveys revealed no change in satisfaction with either protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient appendectomy is safe in a public hospital and results in shorter hospital length of stay and decreased healthcare costs. Strict criteria for discharge are important to identify patients who should be admitted for observation.
BACKGROUND:Outpatient laparoscopic appendectomy is being used increasingly as a treatment option for acute, uncomplicated appendicitis. This was a prospective validation study in a large, urban, public safety-net hospital. STUDY DESIGN: From 2014 to 2016, all patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy for acute, uncomplicated appendicitis were enrolled in a prospective observational trial. Standard baseline perioperative practice (control group) was documented for 1 year. An outpatient appendectomy protocol was then introduced. Inclusion criteria required intraoperative confirmation of uncomplicated appendicitis and strict discharge criteria, including physician assessment before discharge. Data collection then continued for 1 year (outpatient group). The outcomes measures examined included complications, length of stay, nursing transitions, emergency department visits, readmissions, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: The study enrolled 351 patients (178 control, 173 outpatient). Of the 173 candidates for outpatient appendectomy, 113 went home. Reasons for admission included surgeon discretion due to intraoperative findings/medical comorbidities and lack of transportation home. The outpatient group had shorter operative time (69 vs 83 minutes; p < 0.001), longer time in recovery (242 vs 141 minutes; p < 0.001), fewer nursing transitions (4 vs 5; p < 0.001), and shorter postoperative length of stay (9 vs 19 hours; p < 0.001). There was no difference in complications, emergency department visits, or readmissions. In the outpatient group, none of the patients sent home from recovery had postoperative complications or required readmission. Satisfaction surveys revealed no change in satisfaction with either protocol. CONCLUSIONS:Outpatient appendectomy is safe in a public hospital and results in shorter hospital length of stay and decreased healthcare costs. Strict criteria for discharge are important to identify patients who should be admitted for observation.
Authors: Chad G. Ball; Patrick Murphy; Kevin Verhoeff; Omar Albusadi; Matthew Patterson; Sandy Widder; S. Morad Hameed; Neil Parry; Kelly Vogt; John B. Kortbeek; Anthony R. MacLean; Paul T. Engels; Timothy Rice; Rahima Nenshi; Kosar Khwaja; Samuel Minor Journal: Can J Surg Date: 2020-03-27 Impact factor: 2.089
Authors: Elisabeth M L de Wijkerslooth; Jay M Bakas; Joost van Rosmalen; Anne Loes van den Boom; Bas P L Wijnhoven Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2021-02-11 Impact factor: 2.571
Authors: Maciej Walędziak; Anna Lasek; Michał Wysocki; Michael Su; Maciej Bobowicz; Piotr Myśliwiec; Kamil Astapczyk; Mateusz Burdzel; Karolina Chruściel; Rafał Cygan; Wojciech Czubek; Natalia Dowgiałło-Wnukiewicz; Jakub Droś; Paula Franczak; Wacław Hołówko; Artur Kacprzyk; Wojciech Konrad Karcz; Jakub Kenig; Paweł Konrad; Arkadiusz Kopiejć; Adam Kot; Karolina Krakowska; Maciej Kukla; Agnieszka Leszko; Leszek Łozowski; Piotr Major; Wojciech Makarewicz; Paulina Malinowska-Torbicz; Maciej Matyja; Maciej Michalik; Adam Niekurzak; Damian Nowiński; Radomir Ostaszewski; Małgorzata Pabis; Małgorzata Polańska-Płachta; Mateusz Rubinkiewicz; Tomasz Stefura; Anna Stępień; Paweł Szabat; Rafał Śmiechowski; Sebastian Tomaszewski; Viktor von Ehrlich-Treuenstätt; Maciej Wasilczuk; Mateusz Wierdak; Anna Wojdyła; Jan Wojciech Wroński; Leszek Zwolakiewicz; Michał Pędziwiatr Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2019-10-15 Impact factor: 4.379