Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Is day surgery safe? A systematic literature review

  • Review
  • Published:
European Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Background

In many countries, day surgery is very common for some indications, especially in the USA, the UK and Scandinavia. In other countries—for example, Austria, Germany and Switzerland—day surgery is rare. This is due to financial disincentives, different systemic structures and shorter waiting lists for surgery.

Methods

We focused on the 15 most frequently delivered operations in Austria, from which we selected those that could be done in day surgery. For these 11 interventions, we made a systematic literature search in various databases.

Results

We researched 35 studies for data synthesis. On the basis of the summarised studies, we concluded that the following operations can be done safely (and effectively) in both day surgery and in inpatient setting in those patients who fulfil the eligibility criteria for day surgery: cataract surgery, arthroscopic operations of the knee, vein ligation (stripping), cholecystectomy (laparoscopic), adenoidectomy and repair of inguinal and femoral hernia. For the removal of implanted devices from bone, appendectomy, paracentesis, carpal tunnel decompression of median nerve and curettage, studies with a higher evidence level for robust assessment of the safety (and effectiveness) of day surgery are required, although these operations are already undertaken in a day surgery setting in many countries.

Conclusion

Day surgery can be defined as safe for selected interventions and patients. Day surgery requires increasing attention in countries such as Austria with a low level of day surgery, which is particularly evident when making international comparisons.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Narath M. Tageschirurgie: Ein Überblick. Graz; 2009.

  2. Skues M, Jackson I, McWhinnie D. BADS directory of procedures. London: British Association of Day Surgery; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Saaby Kongerslev L, et al. Health statistics for the Nordic countries. Copenhagen: Nordisk Medicinalstatistik Komité; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Russo CA, et al. Ambulatory Surgery in U.S. Hospitals 2003. In: HCUP Fact Book No. 9. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2007.

  5. Uhlir C. Tagesklinische Eingriffe im Aufwind. Klinik OP; 2009. p. 3.

  6. Rechnungshof. Bericht des Rechnungshofes: Tagesklinische Leistungserbringung am Beispiel das Landes Steiermark. 2011. http://www.rechnungshof.gv.at/fileadmin/downloads/2011/berichte/teilberichte/bund/bund_2011_10/Bund_2011_10_4.pdf. Accessed 20 Sept 2012.

  7. Cullen KA, Hall MJ, Golosinskiy A. Ambulatory Surgery in the United States, 2006. In: National Health Statistics Reports. Hyattsville: Department of Health and Human Services; 2009. p. 28.

  8. Hofer H. Entwicklung und Bedeutung des ambulanten Operierens. In Standl T, Lussi C. Ambulantes Operieren. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 2012. p. 3–7.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Smith I, McWhinnie D, Jackson I. An overview of ambulatory surgery. In: Smith I, McWhinnie D, Jackson I. Day case surgery. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2012. p. 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Dybvik T, Naalsund U, Raeder J. Present status and future for ambulatory surgery in Norway. Ambul Surg. 2004;10:177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hanning M, Hellers G. Day surgery in Sweden. Ambul Surg. 1993;1:136–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Embacher G. Krankenanstalten in Zahlen. Vienna: Bundesministerium für Gesundheit; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Fedorowicz Z, et al. Day care versus in-patient surgery for age-related cataract. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(7):CD004242.

  14. Percival SP, Setty SS. Prospective audit comparing ambulatory day surgery with inpatient surgery for treating cataracts. Qual Health Care. 1992;1:38–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lowe KJ, et al. Suitability for day case cataract surgery. Eye. 1992;6(Pt. 5):506–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Bigat Z, et al. Does dexamethasone improve the quality of intravenous regional anesthesia and analgesia? A randomized, controlled clinical study. Anesth Analg. 2006;102(2):605–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Weale AE, et al. Day-case or short-stay admission for arthroscopic knee surgery: a randomised controlled trial. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1998;80(2):146–9.

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Malek MM, et al. Outpatient ACL surgery: a review of safety, practicality, and economy. Instr Course Lect. 1996;45:281–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kao JT, et al. A comparison of outpatient and inpatient anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery. Arthroscopy. 1995;11(2):151–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Liew SCC, Huber D, Jeffs C. Day-only admission for varicose vein surgery. Aust N Z J Surg. 1994.64(10):688–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Gemayel G, Christenson JT. Can bilateral varicose vein surgery be performed safely in an ambulatory setting? Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2012; 43(1):95–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Frings N, et al. Is there a justification for varicose vein surgery under local anaesthesia in a successive procedure? Prospective study on 5000 ligations of the sapheno-femoral (popliteal) junction/stripping-operations. Zentralbl Chir. 2001.126(7):513–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dimakakos P, Vlahos L, Papadimitriou J. Surgery of varicose veins on ambulatory basis. Early and late results. Int Surg. 1995;80(3):267–70.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Baccaglini U, et al. Outpatient surgery of varices of the lower limbs: experience of 2,568 cases at four universities. Int Angiol. 1995;14(4):397–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Allegra C, Antignani PL, Carlizza A. Recurrent varicose veins following surgical treatment: our experience with five years follow-up. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2007;33(6):751–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Gurusamy K, et al. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the safety and effectiveness of day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Br J Surg. 2008;95(2):161–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ahmad NZ, Byrnes G, Naqvi SA. A meta-analysis of ambulatory versus inpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surg Endosc. 2008;22(9):1928–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Barthelsson C, et al. Outpatient versus inpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized study of symptom occurrence, symptom distress and general state of health during the first post-operative week. J Eval Clin Pract. 2008;14(4):577–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Browning S, Blanshard J, Baskerville R. Day case adenoidectomy: is it acceptable to parents? J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1997;42(5):347–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Ahmed K, McCormick MS, Baruah AK. Day-case adenoidectomy—is it safe? Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 1993;18(5):406–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Panarese A, Clarke RW, Yardley MP. Early post-operative morbidity following tonsillectomy in children: implications for day surgery. J Laryngol Otol. 1999;113(12):1089–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Marshall JN, Sheppard I, Narula AA. A prospective study of day case adenoidectomy. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 1995;20(2):164–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Machalova M, Slapak I. One-day surgery in pediatric otolaryngology-10 years’ experience. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2008;72(12):1747–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Ball CG, et al. Dramatic innovations in modern surgical subspecialties. Can J Surg. 2010;53(5):335–41.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Schuh A, Schuh R. Experiences with 925 outpatient operations of carpal tunnel syndrome. Zentralbl Chir. 2002;127(3):224–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Mattila K, et al. Randomized clinical trial comparing ambulatory and inpatient care after inguinal hernia repair in patients aged 65 years or older. Am J Surg. 2011;201(2):179–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Michaels JA, Reece-Smith H, Faber RG. Case-control study of patient satisfaction with day-case and inpatient inguinal hernia repair. J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1992.;37(2):99–100.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Krupinski R, et al. Outpatient uncomplicated inguinal hernia repair versus in-hospital procedure—analysis of 148 cases. Med Sci Monit. 1997;3(2):213–6.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Quilici PJ, et al. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: optimal technical variations and results in 1700 cases. Am Surg. 2000;66(9):848–52.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Kark AE, Kurzer M, Waters KJ. Tension-free mesh hernia repair: review of 1098 cases using local anaesthesia in a day unit. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1995;77(4):299–304.

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Bednar DA, Salem J. Protocol and results of a day-surgical program for the removal of lumbar pedicle screw implants. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2002;15(6):486–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Cash CL, et al. A prospective treatment protocol for outpatient laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis. J Am Coll Surg. 2012;215(1):101–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Sabbagh C, et al. The feasibility of short-stay laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis: a prospective cohort study. Surg Endosc. 2012;26:2630–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Alkhoury F, et al. A prospective study of safety and satisfaction with same-day discharge after laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis. J Pediatr Surg. 2012;47(2):313–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Twersky R, Fishman D, Homel P. What happens after discharge? Return hospital visits after ambulatory surgery. Anesth Analg. 1997;84(2):319–24.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Morales R, et al. Why are ambulatory surgical patients admitted to hospital? Prospective study. Ambul Surg. 2002;9(4):197–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Majholm B, et al. Is day surgery safe? A Danish multicentre study of morbidity after 57,709 day surgery procedures. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2012;56(3):323–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Engbaek J, Bartholdy J, Hjortso NC. Return hospital visits and morbidity within 60 days after day surgery: a retrospective study of 18,736 day surgical procedures. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2006.50(8):911–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Ball C, et al. Validation of a one-stop carpal tunnel clinic including nerve conduction studies and hand therapy. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2011;93(8):634–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The authors want to thank Tarquin Mittermayr for the executed literature search and Markus Narath and Jörg Rüdiger Siewert for their comments.

Conflict of interest

S. Fischer and I. Zechmeister-Koss declare they have no potential conflict of interest and were free of any influence.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment, Garnisongasse 7/20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    S. Fischer & I. Zechmeister-Koss

Authors
  1. S. Fischer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. I. Zechmeister-Koss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Fischer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fischer, S., Zechmeister-Koss, I. Is day surgery safe? A systematic literature review. Eur Surg 46, 103–112 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-014-0257-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-014-0257-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation