Outpatient total laparoscopic hysterectomy

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety of and patient satisfaction with total laparoscopic hysterectomy as an outpatient procedure. DESIGN: Retrospective case study (Canadian Task Force classification III). SETTING: Tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty-six consecutive women. INTERVENTION: Outpatient total laparoscopic hysterectomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 66 procedures completed, 6 patients (7.5%) required overnight hospitalization, with 4 of them discharged the next day. Seven (11%) minor postoperative complications occurred. One patient required hospitalization to receive intravenous antibiotics and one for drainage of a cuff hematoma. There were three (4.5%) minor intraoperative complications. One woman developed Clostridium difficile diarrhea as well as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus. Sixty-three women (95%) were satisfied with the procedure and would recommend it to others. CONCLUSION: Outpatient total laparoscopic hysterectomy is well tolerated, safe, and cost effective.