Optimizing Gynecomastia Correction Surgery: Efficacy and Safety of Tumescent Local Anesthesia Approach.

BACKGROUND: Tumescent local anesthesia (TLA) involves infusing a saline solution containing lidocaine and epinephrine into tissues to achieve localized anesthesia and vasoconstriction. While liposuction under general anesthesia remains the most used treatment, we introduce a novel TLA approach for gynecomastia surgery, drawing from our extensive experience in recent years. METHODS: Between the years 2010 and 2023, we performed gynecomastia surgery on 60 male patients under TLA. The gynecomastia was treated by liposuction plus periareolar excision technique. Liposuction was carried out on both breasts in every case, regardless of whether the gynecomastia was bilateral or unilateral. The tumescent solution consisted of 25 mL of 2% lidocaine, 8 mEq of sodium bicarbonate, and 1 mL of epinephrine (1 mg/1 mL) in 1000 mL of 0.9% saline solution. The solution was infiltrated between the pectoral fascia and the mammary gland, and then the surgery was carried out. RESULTS: The average volume of tumescent solution infiltrated during TLA was 300 mL per breast. There were no reports of adrenaline or lidocaine toxicity, and no cases required a conversion to general anesthesia. Patients experienced no pain or discomfort during the preoperative infiltration or surgical procedure. We observed a major postoperative complications rate of 6.7%, represented by three incident of hematoma and one case of seroma. A minor complication rate of 5% was observed: two cases of retraction of the NAC and one case of gynecomastia recurrence, the latter undergoing an additional combination procedure with liposuction and subcutaneous mastectomy. Follow-up time ranged from 30 days to 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a new outpatient surgical method for gynecomastia using liposuction and periareolar excision under tumescent local anesthesia. This technique, supported by a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, proved a successful and quick recovery, and high patient satisfaction. Our results suggest it is a feasible and effective option, warranting further consideration in gynecomastia treatment strategies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Day-case artificial urinary sphincter for post-prostatectomy incontinence: A comparative pilot study.

Objectives: Implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) to treat post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) has been traditionally offered with an overnight hospital stay. The aim of this prospective, comparative pilot study was to assess the feasibility and outcomes of the AUS procedure in a day-case setting. Patients and methods: We included consecutive patients having primary or redo AUS surgery over an 18-month period. We excluded patients with previous urethral erosion of AUS, urethroplasty or high anaesthetic risk. All patients were offered day-case surgery. Patients who declined or could not have day-case surgery for logistical reasons had standard care with overnight stay and formed the control group for the study. Primary outcome was the proportion of successful same day-discharges in the day-case group. We also compared baseline characteristics, complications and continence at 1 year post surgery. Results: Twelve patients consented for day-case procedure, and 13 patients had standard overnight care. Mean age was 69.5 years (range 58-79). Twenty-one patients (84%) had primary AUS, whereas 4 (16%) had a redo procedure. There were no significant differences between the groups in baseline demographics. Median number of pads/24 h was 5 in the day-case group and 4 in the overnight group. Eight of 12 patients (66.7%) in the day-case group were successfully discharged on the same day. Failed discharges were due to anaesthetic recovery (n = 2), high post-void residuals that resolved spontaneously (n = 1) and intraoperative superficial urethral injury (n = 1). All patients in the day-case group and all but one in the standard of care group were socially continent (0-1 pads) at 1 year post procedure. Conclusion: Day-case catheter-free discharge of AUS patients is feasible and safe in selected patients with comparable continence outcomes and complication rates to those with standard overnight stays.

SAME day amBulatory c (SAMBA): a multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: A recent meta-analysis concluded that outpatient appendectomy appears feasible and safe, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence and a randomized trial is needed. The aim of this trial is to demonstrate that outpatient appendectomy is non-inferior to conventional inpatient appendectomy in terms of overall morbi-mortality on the 30th postoperative day (D30). METHODS: SAMBA is a prospective, randomized, controlled, multicenter non-inferiority trial. We will include 1400 patients admitted to 15 French hospitals between January 2023 and June 2025. Inclusion criteria are patients aged between 15 and 74 years presenting acute uncomplicated appendicitis suitable to be operated by laparoscopy. Patients will be randomized to receive outpatient care (day-surgery) or conventional inpatient care with overnight hospitalization in the surgery department. The primary outcome is postoperative morbi-mortality at D30. Secondary outcomes include time from diagnosis to appendectomy, length of total hospital stay, re-hospitalization, interventional radiology, re-interventions until D30, conversion from outpatient to inpatient, and quality of life and patient satisfaction using validated questionnaires. DISCUSSION: The SAMBA trial tests the hypothesis that outpatient surgery (i.e., without an overnight hospital stay) of uncomplicated acute appendicitis is a feasible and reliable procedure in establishments with a technical platform able to support this management strategy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05691348. Registered on 20 January 2023.

Is outpatient joint arthroplasty safe in a high volume academic centre? A retrospective monocentric study using an institutional pathway.

PURPOSE: Hip and knee arthroplasties are daily procedures in orthopaedic departments. Recently, same-day discharge (SDD) became increasingly popular, but doubts remain about its safety and generalization. Our hypothesis is that outpatient arthroplasty, in a high volume centre and with an institutional protocol, is an effective and reliable practice. METHODS: We realized a monocentric retrospective study of patients undergoing outpatient partial (UKA) or total (TKA) knee or hip arthroplasty (THA) in a high volume academic centre using a well-defined institutional pathway. Epidemiological data and complications occurring in the month following surgery were studied. RESULTS: 498 patients undergoing 501 arthroplasties (219 hips and 282 knees) were examined. The percentage of men and women was 60.28% and 39.72% respectively, mean age was 64.56 ± 9.59 years, mean BMI was 26.87 ± 4.2 and the most represented ASA score was 2. The success rate for same-day discharge was 97.21%. The most frequent causes of failure were urinary retention (28.6%), orthostatic hypotension (28.6%) and insufficiently controlled pain (14.3%). The readmission rate in the month following the operation was 0.8% and the rate of emergency department visits was 1.6%. Finally, the rate of early consultation visits was 7.98%. The comparison between success and failure subgroups in the outpatient setting of our cohort did not highlight statistically significant differences for studied parameters. CONCLUSION: Outpatient arthroplasty, performed in a center used to managing such operations and with a well-established institutional pre- and post-operative protocol, is a safe practice.

There is No Increased Pulmonary Risk Following Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients Who Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Without Underlying Lung Disease.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a frequent condition in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). The current study evaluated whether there is a difference in the perioperative outcome of patients undergoing THA who had a low to moderate risk for OSA and a high risk for OSA, respectively. METHODS: After excluding patients who had concomitant lung disease (COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma, or lung fibrosis) and those missing a STOP-Bang-Score, 1,141 THA patients who had OSA operated on between 2016 and 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Patients at low- to moderate-risk for OSA (STOP-Bang Score 0 to 4) and patients at high risk for OSA (STOP-Bang Score 5 to 8) were compared, and SpO2 (oxygen saturation) drops < 90% as well as readmission rates were compared between patients who did and did not use CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). RESULTS: There was no difference in the risk of SpO2-drop below 90% (1 versus 0%, P = 0.398) and readmission rate (2 versus 2%, P = 0.662) between patients who had low to moderate OSA risk (327 THA) and high OSA risk (814 THA). There was no difference in SpO2 (P > 0.999) and a decrease in oxygen flowrate from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) to the morning of postoperative day (POD1). A CPAP device was used by 41% (467 of 1,141) of patients. There were no differences in SpO2 drop < 90% (0 versus 0%, P = 0.731) and readmission rate (2 versus 2%, P = 0.612) between patients who did and did not use a CPAP machine. CONCLUSION: The current study showed no difference in perioperative outcomes between OSA patients undergoing THA who had a low STOP Bang Score and patients who had a high STOP Bang Score, regardless of the use of a CPAP machine. These data suggest that an elevated Stop Bang Score does not indicate an increased perioperative risk for OSA patients when deciding on outpatient discharge.

[Patient monitoring strategy in a hand surgery university center labeled FESUM-Integration of postgraduate students: A prospective study]. / Stratégie de suivi des patients dans un centre SOS main universitaire labellisé FESUM-Intégration des étudiants de 3e cycle : une étude prospective.

INTRODUCTION: Federation of Hand Emergency Services (FESUM) is a European network of hand emergency centers (called SOS hand centers) in France, Belgium and Luxembourg. The FESUM network includes 64 SOS Hand centers in France. In our university hospital, the FESUM-certified SOS hand has been part of the plastic surgery department since 2001. It has included, since 2016, postgraduate students ("residents") training in hand surgery who participate independently in the patient follow-up. The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of this population of patients with hand injuries and their satisfaction with this mode of follow-up. The secondary objective was to study the characteristics of the patient population treated by our center. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We conducted a study on the follow-up of patients undergoing emergency hand surgery, prospective, single-center, declarative, anonymized, between May and October 2021 at the SOS main center of our university hospital at the "SOS Main" intern consultation. The demographic data, the main characteristics of the pathology, the elements of initial care and follow-up of the patients as well as their satisfaction were analyzed, as well as the satisfaction of the interns. RESULTS: We included 323 patients. The population of patients treated generally corresponded to a young man, manual worker, who was initially treated in an outpatient department or in an SOS Hand consultation. The lesions most often represented were fractures (24%), tendon wounds (18%) and wounds without damage to noble tissues (16%). Follow-up consultations took place mainly 15days after the emergency intervention, lasted on average 10minutes and did not present excessive delays. Patient (91.2%) and post-graduate student (87.2%) satisfaction was high. However, postoperative physiotherapy follow-up was insufficient, as was self-rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: The integration of post-graduate student in a university plastic surgery department into the care of SOS Hand patients seems beneficial for all those involved, and for their training. The characteristics of the follow-up consultations by the intern in autonomous supervision corresponded to the high quality standards of the FESUM. The patients showed a high satisfaction rate. Better valorization of this consultation in "office surgery" should be considered.

Effect of preprocedure anxiety and oestrogen levels on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in patients undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy and hysteroscopy for infertility: A prospective observational pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Females undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries have a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Apart from the established risk factors, hormonal, psychological, genetic and ethnic factors may also contribute to postoperative nausea and vomiting. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between preoperative anxiety and serum oestrogen level with postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy - hysteroscopy for infertility. METHODS: In total, 100 female patients, between the ages of 20-40 years, undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy - hysteroscopy for infertility were recruited for this study. Preoperative anxiety level was assessed using Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) Questionnaire. Serum oestrogen samples were taken before anaesthesia. Postoperative nausea and vomiting grading was rated with 0-3 Likert-type scale. An association of anxiety and oestrogen levels to postoperative nausea and vomiting was done. RESULTS: The analysis between median DASS 21 scores to postoperative nausea and vomiting grading showed no association between DASS 21 scores and postoperative nausea and vomiting grades. Comparing the mean oestrogen levels in patients among each grade of postoperative nausea and vomiting showed no significant difference in the mean oestrogen levels. CONCLUSION: Our study did not find evidence of a significant association between serum oestrogen levels, preoperative anxiety, and postoperative nausea and vomiting.

[Chances and risks of conversion to outpatient treatment in trauma surgery and orthopedics]. / Chancen und Risiken in der Ambulantisierung der Unfallchirurgie und Orthopädie.

At the latest since the Medical Services Healthcare Insurance Reform Act (MDK), the declared will of the legislation is the conversion of operations previously carried out in an inpatient setting to an outpatient setting. In trauma surgery and orthopedics numerous operations are carried out that could principally also be performed in an outpatient setting; however, a prerequisite is a medical assessment of the suitability of patients as well as an economic and normative framework that makes outpatient surgery attractive. Both the Outpatient Surgery in Hospitals Catalogue (AOP-Katalog) and the first edition of the Hybrid Diagnosis-related Groups (DRG) define interventions in trauma surgery that could be carried out in an outpatient setting. Hospitals are therefore required to find solutions for these interventions under processual and economic provisos. These range from omission of outpatient operations to the expansion as a separate financial department in the hospital. With the introduction of the hybrid DRG, the legislation enables equal remuneration for outpatient versus short-term inpatient treatment and leaves the case management up to the hospital; however, the performance of the AOP in the setting of a hospital and also hybrid case flat rates are as a rule not economically viable and bear the risk of the failure of all efforts at conversion to outpatient settings. It is necessary to carry out a fundamental revision of the remuneration and framework conditions for outpatient operations in trauma surgery and orthopedics in hospitals, involving practitioners. This is the only way that the conversion to outpatient treatment can succeed.

[Outpatient cholecystectomy as the next step? : Discussion and possible criteria in the selection of patients]. / Die ambulante Cholezystektomie als nächster Schritt? : Diskussion und mögliche Kriterien in der Auswahl der Patienten.

BACKGROUND: While laparoscopic cholecystectomy has largely been performed in an outpatient setting in some countries for years, in Germany it is still generally performed on an inpatient basis; however, with the progressive ambitions for more outpatient treatment within the German healthcare system, laparoscopic cholecystectomy will (have to) increasingly be performed on an outpatient basis in the upcoming years. AIM OF THE WORK: Presentation of the current framework conditions and the potential for outpatient performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Germany. Presentation and discussion on the current state of knowledge regarding patient selection, treatment pathways and safety of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy. RESULTS: The potential for outpatient management of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Germany is high. Based on the current literature, there are no safety concerns regarding outpatient performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in selected patients. CONCLUSION: Outpatient management of laparoscopic cholecystectomy is inevitably heading our way in the next years. The key to successful change will be comprehensive patient information, patient selection and structured outpatient treatment pathways.

[Outpatient treatment for hernia surgery in Germany]. / Ambulantisierung in der Hernienchirurgie in Deutschland.

Outpatient surgery in the treatment of hernia is currently a major challenge for patients and treating physicians in Germany due to the new legal regulations (key term hybrid diagnosis-related groups, DRG). Despite large economic challenges and empty funds, the principle of medical treatment is still the patient-oriented scientifically founded medicine. Although outpatient treatment would be very desirable, clear medical knowledge should the basis for the justification of surgical strategies: outpatient short hospitalization (24h) or fully inpatient hospitalization (>24h). A completely outpatient treatment of hernias is not meaningful and the demarcation of outpatient, short inpatient and inpatient treatment should be demonstrated in a risk-adjusted manner. A classification is essential, particularly against the background of an intersectoral hybrid DRG.

A 10-point preoperative checklist: selecting patients for outpatient joint replacement surgery.

BACKGROUND: With advancements in perioperative care, joint replacement (JR) surgery is undergoing a transition from opacified in-patient institutions to nimble out-patient Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC). The goal of JR in ASC setting is safe patient discharge with subsequent rehabilitation without readmission. Multi-modal preoperative rehabilitation (MMPR) is a novel field of perioperative care, encompassing comprehensive parameters to ensure smooth transition from fitness for surgery to JR in outpatient setting. At present, there are no open-access schemes for selecting patients qualified for JR in the ASC setting. In this article, we propose an evidence-based, 10-point systematic evaluation of patients with target endpoints for MMPR to qualify patients for JR as an outpatient procedure. This checklist is a non-proprietary scheme serving as an initial framework for surgeons exploring surgery in the ASC setting. BODY: We introduce factors for a prehabilitation scheme, called Checklist Outpatient-Joint Replacement (CO-JR) to qualify patients for outpatient JR surgery. These factors have been developed based on an extensive literature review and the significant experience of authors to incorporate variables that drive a successful outpatient JR procedure. The factors include patient education, psychiatric & cognitive ability, medical fitness, musculoskeletal capability, financial ability, transportation access, patient motivation, information technology (IT) capabilities, along with ability to recover independently at home postoperatively. The CO-JR scheme is under the process of validation at multiple institutions. We introduce this as a starting point for collaborative development of an open-access scheme for all surgeons to learn and adapt as needed for their respective global region. CONCLUSION: We established a non-proprietary 10-point CO-JR scheme, serving as a framework for surgeons to successfully select patients for JR surgery in the ASC setting. We encourage concomitant validation of this scheme globally. Our goal is to reach an international consensus on an open-access scheme, available for all surgeons to enrol patients for JR in the ASC setting, but modifiable to accommodate regional needs.

Moderate burden amongst caregivers posthip arthroscopy linked to younger caregiver age and task load: A cross-sectional survey study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the burden experienced by primary informal caregivers of patients who have undergone hip arthroscopy and to identify factors that predict increased caregiver burden. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a single academic hospital centre, enroling caregivers of patients who underwent hip arthroscopy between November 2018 and November 2023. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) survey. Multivariable linear regression models were used to identify predictors of caregiver burden, with the global CBI score serving as the primary outcome measure. Secondarily, open-ended survey questions were analyzed qualitatively to elucidate specific challenges and facilitators of caregiving, as reported by the caregivers themselves. RESULTS: The study involved 99 eligible caregivers (mean [standard deviation] age; 47 [11] years), 58% were female, and 85% were relatives of the patient. The median global CBI score was 13.0 (interquartile range: 8.0-22.4), indicating a moderate burden. Regression analyses demonstrated that younger caregiver age and a higher number of caregiving tasks were significant predictors of increased global burden. Additionally, nonweightbearing status of patients, female gender of caregivers and working full-time statistically significantly increased specific dimensions of caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the meaningful burden faced by caregivers of patients undergoing hip arthroscopy, despite its minimally invasive nature and outpatient setting. Identified risk factors such as younger caregiver age, female gender of the caregiver, nonweight-bearing status and increased caregiving tasks suggest targeted areas for intervention. The qualitative analysis revealed that caregivers struggle with time management and physical and emotional strain, yet better communication and practical support from healthcare teams could help to alleviate these challenges. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prognostic study.

Database analysis comparing incidence and complication rates between inpatient and outpatient laminotomies for lumbar disc herniation.

Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common condition that can be characterized with disabling pain. While most patients recover without surgery, some still require operative intervention. The epidemiology and trends of laminotomy for LDH have not been recently studied, and current practice patterns might be different from historical norms. This study aimed to investigate the trends of inpatient and outpatient laminotomies for LDH and compare complication rates between these two sites of service. Methods: A large, national database was utilized to identify patients > 8 years old who underwent a laminotomy for LDH between 2009 and 2019. Two cohorts were created based on site of surgery: inpatient versus outpatient. The outpatient cohort was defined as patients who had a length of stay less than 1 day without any associated hospitalization. Epidemiologic analyses for these cohorts were performed by demographics. Patients in both groups were then 1:1 propensity-score matched based on age, sex, insurance type, geographic region, and comorbidities. Ninety-day postoperative complications were compared between cohorts utilizing multivariate logistic regressions. Results: The average incidence of laminotomy for LDH was 13.0 per 10,000 persons-years. Although the national trend in incidence had not changed from 2009 to 2019, the proportion of outpatient laminotomies significantly increased in this time period (p=.02). Outpatient laminotomies were more common among younger and healthier patients. Patients with inpatient laminotomies had significantly higher rates of surgical site infections (odds ratio [OR] 1.61, p<.001), venous thromboembolism (VTE) (OR 1.96, p<.001), hematoma (OR 1.71, p<.001), urinary tract infections (OR 1.41, p<.001), and acute kidney injuries (OR 1.75, p=.001), even when controlling for selected confounders. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated an increasing trend in the performance of laminotomy for LDH toward the outpatient setting. Even when controlling for certain confounders, patients requiring inpatient procedures had higher rates of postoperative complications. This study highlights the importance of carefully evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of performing these procedures in an outpatient versus inpatient setting.

Optimizing outpatient neurosurgery: evaluating ambulatory surgery and same-day discharge following intracranial tumor surgery and endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

OBJECTIVE: Outpatient surgery and same-day discharge are developing fields that align with the evolving needs of modern healthcare, presenting a notable advantage by reducing patient susceptibility to nosocomial infections, thromboembolic complications, and medical errors. When paired with enhanced recovery after surgery protocols, they hold promise in safely transitioning certain patients undergoing cranial surgery to outpatient care. This study aimed to evaluate discharge on the same day of surgery after intracranial tumor resection and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and to investigate potential associations with anesthesia methods, complications, and readmission rates. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients scheduled for planned discharge on the same day of surgery between August 2020 and October 2023 was conducted. Data included patient demographic characteristics, preoperative clinical deficits, diagnosis, findings on preoperative and postoperative MRI, lesion characteristics, complications, and readmission rates. RESULTS: A total of 202 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 56.8 years and 117 (57.9%) patients were female. Patients were admitted the evening before surgery to obtain preoperative clearance and undergo MRI. The most common diagnoses were metastasis (23.3%), meningioma (20.8%), glioblastoma (12.4%), and low-grade glioma (10.4%). Craniotomy (46.5%), stereotactic needle biopsy (35.1), and ETV (6.9%) were the most common procedures performed. Thirteen (6.4%) patients underwent awake craniotomy, and 189 (93.6%) surgical procedures were conducted under general anesthesia. Complications occurred in 1.5% of patients, with no permanent complications observed during a mean follow-up of 9.3 months. In total, 179 (88.6%) patients were successfully discharged on the same day of surgery. The median length of hospitalization was 26.8 hours, with the median length of postoperative stay being 7 hours. Twenty-three (11.4%) patients were deemed ineligible for discharge on postoperative day 0 and instead discharged on postoperative day 1. The reasons for these delays included further clinical monitoring (n = 12), social factors (n = 4), and patient preference (n = 7). Age was positively correlated with length of hospitalization (p = 0.006). In total, 6.4% of patients were readmitted within 1-30 days after discharge, with 2.5% readmitted to the department of neurosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the safety and feasibility of discharge on the same day of surgery, with a high success rate and low complication rates. Early discharge did not increase morbidity or readmission rates. Implementation of clear discharge protocols and thorough patient education are crucial for successful same-day discharge programs in neurosurgery.

[Challenges and options for advanced training in surgery : An interdisciplinary position paper against the background of the hospital structural reform in Germany]. / Herausforderungen und Chancen für die chirurgische Weiterbildung : Ein fachgesellschaftsübergreifendes Positionspapier vor dem Hintergrund der Krankenhausstrukturreform.

BACKGROUND: Even now the further training in surgery faces considerable challenges. The planned hospital structural reform will result in new bureaucratic and organizational hurdles, which could lead to a considerable loss of quality in advanced surgical training across all disciplines. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this position paper is to describe the current and future challenges for advanced surgical training and to identify possible approaches and opportunities for the further development against the background of the planned hospital structural reform. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For the development of this position paper a committee of representatives of the Young Forums of the German surgical societies identified and critically discussed current problems and challenges of the present residency training system and formulated a list of demands for a sustainable residency training concept. RESULTS: The planned shift to outpatient treatment and centralization were identified as central challenges for surgical residency training. Surgical training must be considered consistently and from the outset in all political reform efforts. In addition to a transparent and cost-appropriate financing of residency training, we call for the involvement of all German surgical societies in the reform process. Furthermore, the social framework conditions for junior surgeons should be considered. CONCLUSION: The structural change in the hospital landscape in Germany, which is being forced by politicians, harbors the risk of a further loss of quality and experience in surgical treatment and training. At the same time, the planned hospital reform offers a unique opportunity to address existing problems and challenges in surgical training and to consider them as a starting point for structural changes which are fit for the future.

Incidence of Unplanned Readmissions After One-Day Surgery Discharge Among Pediatric Patients: A Retrospective Study From a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction The prevalence of one-day surgery (also known as same-day surgery or outpatient surgery) has been increasing recently among patients and physicians in many countries due to its benefits. The main benefits of one-day surgery are that the patient is not planned to stay overnight before the surgery and can be discharged on the same day of the surgery. The lower cost to the health system can make these surgeries more favorable for both sides. However, unplanned readmission after such surgeries can happen and this has broad implications for patients, their families, and the healthcare system. Therefore, this study primarily aims to identify the incidence of unexpected hospital readmissions following one-day surgery after discharge among children. The study also aims to identify any significant variables that can be identified with the cases of readmissions to allow for further investigations in future studies Methods This study was done at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The target population included all pediatric patients who underwent one-day surgeries and were admitted within one week of their discharge from 2017 to 2023 through outpatient clinics and the emergency department. Results The study sample size was 403 patients, with male patients accounting for 241 surgeries (59.8%), and female patients accounting for 162 surgeries (40.1%). The most common American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification was II, accounting for 169 cases (41.9%). Toddlers and preschoolers (aged 1-6 years) were the age groups with the highest number of patients (n=252, 62.5% combined). Elective surgeries accounted for 382 cases (94.7%). The specialty with the highest number of surgeries was ear, nose, and throat with 284 cases (70.4%) with tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy being the most common surgery with 234 cases (58%). The most common reasons for unplanned readmission were poor oral intake (n=146, 36.2%) and bleeding (n=131, 32.5%). The most common day of readmission was the seventh day in five surgical specialties (45.4%). Conclusion Over the past seven years, 403 patients were readmitted within one week after their one-day surgery at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital. Such a situation may cause dissatisfaction with the medical care that the patients were given and eventually may build an untrusted relationship between the patient and the physician. Future investigations should be established to lower such a condition and develop prevention methods to lower its prevalence.

Patient Satisfaction with Nonopioid Postoperative Analgesia in Head and Neck Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate patients' satisfaction with opioid versus opioid-sparing postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing outpatient head and neck surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. SETTING: Tertiary care academic hospital. METHODS: Adult patients undergoing outpatient head and neck surgery were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 analgesic regimens. First- and second-line medications were the following by group (1) Hydrocodone-acetaminophen with ibuprofen, (2) ibuprofen with hydrocodone-acetaminophen, and (3) ibuprofen with acetaminophen. Preoperative counseling was provided to patients regarding expected pain and proper medication use. Postoperative questionnaires were administered to assess satisfaction. RESULTS: One hundred three patients were enrolled in the study (mean age, 56.5 years; women, 75 [73%]). The mean satisfaction score with the pain regimen assigned was similar between the 3 groups (scale 0-10, [7.7, 8.3, 8.5, P = .46]). A similar percentage of patients in each group reported that surgery was more painful than anticipated (25%, 32%, 26%, P = .978), and a similar percentage of patients reported willingness to utilize the same analgesic regimen following future surgeries (75%, 83%, 76%, P = .682). Additional questions evaluating the side effect profile, maximum and minimum pain scores, and difficulty of recovery were not statistically different between the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: In the postoperative population for outpatient head and neck surgeries, there was no significant difference in patient satisfaction and pain control between the opioid and nonopioid arms. Providers should discuss opioid-sparing regimens preoperatively with patients and describe them as effective in providing adequate pain control without a significant impact on patient's perception of care.

Association of amisulpride and recovery room length of stay among patients with postoperative nausea and vomiting following outpatient surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common sequela of surgery in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Amisulpride has shown promise in its ability to treat PONV. The objective of this study was to determine if amisulpride is associated with significant changes in PACU efficiency within a fast-paced ambulatory surgery center. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 816 patients at a single ambulatory surgery center who experienced PONV between 2018 and 2023. The two cohorts analyzed were patients who did or did not have amisulpride among their anti-emetic regimens in the PACU during two distinct time periods (before and after amisulpride was introduced). The primary outcome of the study was PACU length of stay. Both unmatched analysis and a linear multivariable mixed-effects model fit by restricted maximum likelihood (random effect being surgical procedure) were used to analyze the association between amisulpride and PACU length of stay. We performed segmented regression to account for cohorts occurring during two time periods. RESULTS: Unmatched univariate analysis revealed no significant difference in PACU length of stay (minutes) between the amisulpride and no amisulpride cohorts (115 min vs 119 min, respectively; P = 0.07). However, when addressing confounders by means of the mixed-effects multivariable segmented regression, the amisulpride cohort was associated with a statistically significant reduction in PACU length of stay by 26.1 min (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that amisulpride was associated with a significant decrease in PACU length of stay among patients with PONV in a single outpatient surgery center. The downstream cost-savings and operational efficiency gained from this drug's implementation may serve as a useful lens through which this drug's widespread implementation may further be rationalized.

Minimally invasive outpatient hysterectomy for a benign indication: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Outpatient surgery in gynaecology may offer advantages including cost reduction, patient convenience and hospital bed optimisation without compromising patient safety and satisfaction. With the continual rise in health costs since 2000, outpatient surgery could be a line of action to improve financial resource utilisation and a solution for continuing to treat patients during crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review provides an overview of the literature on minimally invasive outpatient hysterectomy for benign indications. METHOD: A focused systematic review of the medical literature between 2018 and 2022 on outpatient gynaecological surgery for a benign indication was conducted using the PubMed and Google Scholar search engines. We then narrowed our selection to articles that referred to hysterectomy. Successful same-day discharge (SDD) was defined as the patient's return home on the day of the procedure without an overnight stay. RESULTS: Fifteen articles that focused on minimally invasive surgery were included in this review. Most of the studies (n = 11) were conducted in the United States. Outpatient surgery had a mean success rate of 60 % and a mean readmission rate of 3 %. The main reasons for SDD failure were patient choice, failed voiding, the need for pain management, nausea or vomiting, or both and the late timing of surgery. SDD was not associated with more complications and readmissions compared with inpatient care. The three main attribute predictors of SDD were young age, early timing of surgery and short total operative time. Patient satisfaction with SDD was high in absolute terms and relative to satisfaction with hospitalisation. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive outpatient hysterectomy for a benign indication is feasible and safe but is associated with a notable risk of failure. To increase the success rate of outpatient management, patients must be well selected and surgery pathways must be planned in advance. The implementation of enhanced recovery protocols may help promote outpatient hysterectomy for a benign indication.