Safety of early discharge in patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy in a high complexity center in Bogotá, Colombia, 2013 - 2019. Historical cohort

Objective: To describe the safety of early discharge in the first 12 hours of the postoperative period in women undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign uterine disease. Materials and methods: Descriptive historical cohort study. The study included all women undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy due to benign disease and discharged after 12 hours of the procedure in a high complexity hospital in Bogota Colombia, between January 2013 and April 2019. Patients with comorbidities (diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) mobility limitations and intraoperative complications were excluded. Consecutive sampling was used. The variables assessed included demographics and safety variables such as readmission through the emergency service and complications classified according to the Dindo scale on the fifteenth postoperative day. A descriptive analysis is made. Results: Of 860 laparoscopic hysterectomies performed during the study period, 67 (7.8%) met the selection criteria. Eleven patients (16.4%) were readmitted through the emergency service, one (9%) due to active bleeding, and two (18%) because of urinary symptoms. There were six (8.9%) postoperative complications, including vaginal vault hematoma in two patients (2.9%), hemoperitoneum in two cases (2,9%), one (1.4%) urinary infection and one (1.4%) ureteral injury; four patients (5.9%) required hospitalization and were classified as stage IIIb on the Dindo scale. Conclusions: Early discharge emerges as an alternative to in-hospital care for this type of population. Randomized controlled studies are needed to produce additional evidence regarding this management approach.