RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL COMPARING SAME-DAY DISCHARGE WITH HOSPITAL STAY FOLLOWING HEMORRHOIDECTOMY

Background: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare tra ditional hospital stay haemorrhoidectomy (STAY) with same-day discharg e haemorrhoidectomy (DAY) with regard to costs, clinical outcome and p atient satisfaction Methods: A total of 54 consecutive patients were r andomized to either STAY or DAY groups. A standardized excision of the e piles was performed and the wounds were left open. The DAY patients went home on the same day but the STAY patients remained in hospital u ntil their bowels had opened. A linear analogue pain score and patient satisfaction questionnaire were administered. During a mean follow-up of 60.5 (standard error of mean = 1.2) weeks, the complications and t he total medical costs were recorded Results: There were no difference s in the age and sex distributions in both groups (STAY: ii men, 16 wo men; mean age 40.6 (+/-1.8) years; DAY: 10 men, 17 women; mean age 40. 6 (+/-1.9) years). Despite accounting for any readmissions, the DAY pa tients accumulated shorter total hospitalization stays (P<0.001) and i ncurred less total medical costs (P=0.04). The pain scores, analgesia. requirements, postoperative complications, patient satisfaction and t ime taken off work were not different between the two groups. However, more patients in both groups preferred to stay after surgery if they should need another haemorrhoidectomy. Conclusions: Haemorrhoidectomy (with excision of three piles) can be safely performed as a day proced ure, with reduced hospitalization and medical costs.