Minicholecystectomy - A safe, cost-effective day surgery procedure

Objective: To document effectiveness of minicholecystectomy as a safe, cost-effective day surgery procedure with rapid return to work. Design: Review of medical records. Setting: Small community hospital. Patients: A total of 1207 patients who underwent minicholecystectomies from January 1, 1986, through December 31, 1997. Intervention: Minicholecystectomy. Main Outcome measures: Complications, length of hospital stay, cost, and time until return to work. Results: Of the 1207 patients who underwent minicholecystectomy, 74% were admitted fur day surgery, 88% of whom were discharged in less than 12 hours, 9.3% in 24 hours or less, and 1.7% in greater than 24 hours; 0.3% were readmitted within 2 weeks. The complication rate was 0.2%; 2 cases required laparotomy, with no common duct injuries. The cost of the procedure was $435: the average time it took working patients to return to work was 11.4 days. Conclusions: Minicholecystectomy is a safe, inexpensive day surgery method of cholecystectomy with minimal time off work after surgery.