Abstract

VEGA-VEGA, Marlen; ORLICH-CARRANZA, Claudio  and  GOMEZ-HERNANDEZ, Karen. Colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria: Reporte preliminar de 100 casos. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2006, vol.48, n.3, pp.119-122. ISSN 0001-6002.

Background: It is well known that a laparoscopic approach is the election of choice for cholecystectomies, this is due, among other things, to the great benefits that it has over open surgery regarding patients recovery. It is also known that to do so in an ambulatory setting is reasonable in a subgroup of selected patients. Even though this has become a common practice in other countries, Costa Rica´s social security system does not have a program for ambulatory cholecystectomy. Aim: To demonstrate that in Costa Rica, laparoscopic cholecistectomy can be done safely in an ambulatory setting. Methods: Between february and july of this year a total of 100 patients with cholelithiasis, with ages between 16 and 61 and a previous ly signed informed consent, were included in a program of ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the Surgery One Service at the Hospital San Juan de Dios. In general, these patients had no previous comorbilities. There were no patients with cholecystitis or thicken gallbladder walls on ultrasonography. The patients were admitted at 6am and had the procedure done some time during the next 4 hours, they were discharged at 4pm and seen 15 days later. Results: Of the 100 patients, 6 had to be hospitalized. The only complication was a biliary fistula. There were no reinterventions and there was no mortality. Conclusions: In Costa Rica, laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be done safely in an ambulatory setting, with an adecuate preoperative selection of patients and an adequate postoperative management.

Keywords : ambulatory surgery; cholecystectomy; laparoscopy.