Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Patient and nursing perspective

Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become nearly mandatory in the current health care economic environment, This study determined the opinion s of patients and their nurses regarding disability and pain after laparosc opic cholecystectomy. Using a 14-point questionnaire, 32 consecutive patien ts who underwent inpatient LC were surveyed. The nurses caring for these pa tients were surveyed with a nine-point questionnaire. Seventy-one percent o f patients believed that they could not have been discharged the day of sur gery; the nurses reported that 81% of the patients could not have gone home . Nausea and vomiting were common. Pain was rated as 9 or 10 in 19% of pati ents. Nurses reported that 56% of postoperative patients were not receptive to discharge teaching. Morning (16) versus afternoon (16) procedures were not different, Successful programs of outpatient LC must: 1) ensure adequat e home support because patient capability will be limited, 2) optimize pain control, 3) minimize nausea and vomiting, and 4) deliver patient education preoperatively.