Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Four years of experience.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of an ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy program.

Methods: Prospective analysis of ambulatory cases, overnight stay percentage, unexpected admission rate, postoperative complications and readmissions. Methods: 271 consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Results: Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy was completed in 193 out of 271 patients, reaching a 71.2 percent for the whole series. Ambulatory patients increased along with the experience of the team from a 22.9 percent in 1997 to 91.4 per cent in 2000. Sixty four patients (23.6%) had to be hospitalized overnight. Finally 14 patients had to be admitted (5.2%). The percentage of postoperative complications was 7.7%.

Conclusions: Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe procedure with no increase in morbidity that can be performed in up to 90 per cent of patients.