Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and outcome of day case laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with symptomatic gallstones. Materials and methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Surgery, Northern Medical Tower, in the Northern Border region of Saudi Arabia from Jan 2018 to Dec 2019. Two hundred forty six patients with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were admitted electively on the same day and operated on in the morning hours and discharged by the surgeon 6-8 hours later in the evening. The variables of this study were overnight stay, rate of conversion to open surgery and perioperative complications. Results: Out of 246 patients, 221 (90%) were female and 25 (10%) were male with a ratio of 9:1. The age of the patients ranged from 20-50 years with a mean age of 35 years. In this series 209 patients (85%) were discharged successfully after observation of 6-8 hours in the day surgery unit (DSU) whereas 37 patients (15%) stayed overnight. Factors responsible for overnight stay included excessive postoperative nausea and vomiting in 5 cases (2%), drain placement in 27 cases (11%) and three patients (>1%) refused to discharged. Two patients (<1%) required conversion to open laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Umbilical port site infection was noted in 4 cases (2%). Conclusion: Day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and feasible with high success rate in carefully selected patients with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones.