Outpatient Laparoscopic Hysterectomy in a Rural Ambulatory Surgery Center

Study Objective

To evaluate a cost-optimized operative technique for outpatient laparoscopic hysterectomy in a rural ambulatory surgery center focusing on shortening hospital stay and substitution of expensive disposable laparoscopic instruments with standard surgical techniques.

Design

Prospective feasibility and observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

Setting

Rural ambulatory surgery center in Lamar, Alabama.

Patients

Fifty-two women.

Intervention

Outpatient laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Measurements and Main Results

Measurements and Main Results. From September 2001 through September 2003, 52 consecutive procedures with a modified classical intrafascial supracervical hysterectomy (CISH) technique without disposable instruments have been performed on patients with an average age of 42.2 years (range 25–62 years) and a follow-up of 12.5 months (range 0.4–23.6 months). Mean postoperative length of stay was 6 hours, 19 minutes (range 3 hours, 10 minutes–17 hours, 30 minutes), and overall length of stay was 11 hours, 37 minutes (range 6 hours, 45 minutes–22 hours, 50 minutes). Five patients (9.6%) stayed overnight, three for medical and two for social reasons. With an average of 2 hours, 14 minutes, the operating room time was about 1 hour longer than with disposable instruments. Health insurance reimbursement for the ambulatory surgery center was on average $1814.11. No complications occurred, and no readmission to the hospital was necessary.

Conclusion

Outpatient laparoscopic hysterectomy is feasible and safe and can be performed cost effectively in ambulatory surgery centers, even in rural areas. Development of a protocol with patient selection, preoperative and postoperative patient teaching, caring family environment, and round-the-clock medical telephone backup is necessary.