Safety and feasibility of same day discharge for robotic hysterectomy and staging for endometrial cancer

Objectives

Same day discharge (SDD) is well established for benign minimally invasive hysterectomy, but its adoption for endometrial cancer has been met with some concerns. This multicenter study investigates outcomes for endometrial cancer patients discharged on the same day following robotic hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed endometrial cancer patients treated with robotic hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy from January 2019 to December 2021. We collected clinical, pathologic, and surgical data, and reviewed medical records for unscheduled contacts, acute visits, or readmissions within 30 days postoperatively. Logistic regression models were used to assess associations with non-SDD.

Results

Of 690 patients, 208 (30.1 %) required overnight observation. Indications for observation included nausea/vomiting (14.9 %), persistent sedation (9.1 %), hypoxia (7.7 %), and urinary retention (7.2 %). In 123 patients (59.1 %), the admission reason was undocumented. Univariate analysis revealed that factors associated with overnight observation included age (OR 1.19 per 10 years, P = 0.04), BMI (OR 1.10 per 5 kg/m², P = 0.04), ASA score ≥ 3 (OR 1.53, P = 0.01), operative time (OR 1.52 per 60 min, P < 0.01), and other comorbidities. Unscheduled contacts were most frequently due to uncontrolled pain (12 SDD patients, 14 non-SDD) and urinary tract infection (15 SDD, 13 non-SDD). Twelve SDD patients (2.5 %) and four non-SDD patients (1.9 %) were readmitted within 30 days.

Conclusions

For patients undergoing robotic hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer, no significant differences in unscheduled contact, 30-day readmission, or reoperation were observed between SDD and non-SDD cohorts. Factors associated with non-SDD included chronic kidney disease, anticoagulation, conversion to laparotomy, and procedure timing.