Discharge less than 6 hours after robot-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy—is it feasible?

Abstract

The benefits of fast track regimes, i.e. reduction in hospital stay and minimization of postoperative complications, have led to their widespread use. This study tested the feasibility of a fast track programme based on robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy in which patients were discharged from a day care unit within 6 h after the operation. We enrolled 22 patients. Preoperatively, all patients were carefully informed. All patients except two could be discharged on the same day. Pain during the first 24 h was not a problem. No readmissions occurred within the first 30 days after the surgery. This small series of robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy demonstrates that the postoperative hospital stay could be reduced and that this procedure could be carried out in a day surgery unit. Preparing the patients for surgery in the day unit is an important part of a successful fast track regimen.