Patrick Wood, Faisal Nazir Awan, Paul Balfe, Frederick Pretorius, Osama El-Faedy, Syed Faiz Alam
Background: There has been an increasing move towards performing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies through surgical day wards as it maximises resources and maximises economic utility to deal with this common disease. The aim of this study was to identify the unplanned admission rates, cause of these admissions and isolate ways to improve the unplanned admission rate. In our institution laparoscopic cholecystectomies make up a significant amount of our elective case mix and this is transferable to other institutions nationally.
Methods: A retrospective review of all day surgery activity in the Day Surgery Unit in St. Luke’s General Hospital Kilkenny from January 1st to 31st of December 2016. Day surgery unit patients, includes patients of all age groups, ASA status I–III, undergoing planned elective surgery including interval laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Data collected retrospectively from IPMS patient census programme, H.I.P.E office, theatre log books and chart reviews.
Results: Total activity 511 Day Surgical Unit cases. Eighty-two admissions (71 unplanned 11 planned), 13.89% unplanned admissions rate. Out of these 511 operations, 115 were cholecystectomies (22.50%), 112 were laparoscopic cholecystectomies. There were 26 unplanned admissions, a rate of 23.21%.
Conclusions: There were 26 (23.21%) unplanned admissions, which is higher than 13.89% unplanned admission rate for total cases. The main factor for these admissions is for observation (including drains).
