Outpatient appendectomy feasible in safety net hospital

Editor's Note

Outpatient laparoscopic appendectomy is safe in a public safety net hospital and results in shorter length of stay and decreased healthcare costs, this study finds.

A total of 351 patients were enrolled in the study: 173 outpatients and 178 inpatient controls. Of the 173 outpatients, 113 were discharged home and 60 were admitted. Reasons for admission included surgeon discretion because of intraoperative findings and comorbidities and lack of transportation home.

The outpatient group had shorter operative time (69 vs 83 minutes), longer time in recovery (242 vs 141 minutes), fewer nursing transitions (4 vs 5), and shorter postoperative length of stay (9 vs 19 hours). There was no difference in complications, emergency department visits, or readmissions.

Patient satisfaction survey scores were similar for both inpatient and outpatient groups.

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.