Can we consider day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis? Identification of potentially eligible patients

Abstract Background Day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy has not yet been validated for acute cholecystitis. We sought to identify a subgroup of acute cholecystitis patients having been hospitalized overnight after laparoscopic cholecystectomy but who could have been eligible for day-case surgery. Methods We identified patients treated for acute cholecystitis with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our university medical center between May 1, 2010, and May 31, 2012, and who lacked contraindications for day-case surgery. In a second step, we assumed that patients hospitalized for 3 d in terms of demographic data, laboratory test results, and surgical procedures. Results The study population comprised 86 men and 82 women (median age: 57 y; age range: 18–90 y). Contraindications for day-case surgery were identified preoperatively in 23% of the cases (39 of 168) and intraoperatively in another 23% of the cases. The proportion of patients hospitalized for