Early Hospital Discharge Following Breast Cancer Surgery in the West Indies: a Trinidad Study

Purpose: To examine the outcome of a policy of early hospital discharge (<24 hours) after breast cancer surgery in a Third World setting, where health care resources and support services are very limited. Design: Prospective enrollment into a plan of early hospital discharge within 24 hours following breast surgery. Followup was conducted for wound infections; seroma formation; flap dehiscence; and readmission, if any. Subjects: All patients over a 15-year period who underwent wide local excision or mastectomy and axillary clearance were enrolled. Results: A total of 331 patients were entered into the study. Of these, 148 had modified radical mastectomy and 183 had wide local excision plus axillary dissection. Each patient had a drain placed and output was recorded. Follow-up revealed that there was no increase in the complication rates. Conclusion: Early hospital discharge following breast cancer surgery is a feasible option for most patients and can be safely implemented even in a resource-limited setting where cost containment is essential.