TH6.2 Day Case Laparoscopic Appendicectomy for Acute Appendicitis In Adults: A Retrospective Case Series Study

Abstract

Abstract Aims Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is nowadays considered the standard of care as it is associated with shorter hospital stay and fewer complications. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of same-day discharge after laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis at a tertiary Care Center. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed for patients >18 years old who underwent LA for acute appendicitis in 2021. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: discharge in <24h or admission for >24-h. Demographic data, postoperative length of stay, histology report, complications and readmission rates were abstracted from patient medical records. Results A total of 303 laparoscopic appendicectomies were included. Of these, 71 patients had Length Of Stay (LOS) less than 24 hours. Pathology, comorbidities, and readmission were recorded. Average LOS for all patients was 7 hours with a minimum stay of 4 hours and a maximum stay of 23 hours. For patients discharged in less than 24 hours, there was no readmission and 58 (19.1%) of these patients had simple appendicitis on pathology. A total of 26 patients (8.58%) were discharged in less than 7 hours (from the recovery room). There was no significant difference in complications or readmission between patients discharged in less than 24 hours and those who stayed longer. Conclusion Day case LA is a safe and effective practice for treating selected patients with non-perforated appendicitis, as it decreases the length of stay and hospital charges.