LAPAROSCOPY AS A DAY-CASE PROCEDURE IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER-DISEASE

Background and Study Aims: The present study was aimed at exploring th e feasibility of diagnostic laparoscopy on a day-case basis in patient s with liver disease. Patients and Methods: Retrospective analysis was carried out of 85 consecutive day-case laparoscopies performed betwee n January 1990 and January 1994, During this period, patients were obs erved in day-care facilities for a period of three hours, Patients' pe rception and acceptance of the procedure were assessed using a postal questionnaire. Results: Laparoscopy was successful in 84 of the 85 pat ients; adequate liver biopsies were obtained in 83 patients, In three cases, the procedure was converted to a one-night hospital admission b ecause of pain (1), persistent sedation (1) and collapse (1), Abdomina l skin hematomas were reported by eight patients, and fever by two, Se rious complications were not observed, The majority of patients experi enced no complaints, or minor ones, after the procedure, and they expr essed a preference for an outpatient procedure in case a renewed inves tigation might be indicated, Compared with in-hospital procedures, day -case laparoscopy was associated with a 33% reduction in cost. Conclus ions: Diagnostic laparoscopy, with the hospital stay reduced to three hours, can be performed safely as a day-case procedure in selected pat ients.