NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In selected patients undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN), same-day discharge is feasible, a small study suggests.
Dr. Daniel Benamran from the Sorbonne University and Hopital Pitie Salpetriere, Paris, France and colleagues found low readmission rates and a high success rate at 30 and 90 days in their study of 20 carefully selected patients who underwent RAPN as outpatients.
All 20 (55% male) had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status between 0-1 with no major comorbidities. Their American Society of Anaethesiologists classification was 2 or less, renal mass was less than 4 cm, and RENAL nephrometry score was <6, indicating low risk for postoperative complications. All patients were asked to get a blood test on postoperative day (POD) 1 and were called at home by a nurse by the next day.
Exclusion criteria included treatment with anticoagulants, complex tumors, and lack of help at home.
The median age of the 20 patients was 63(IQR 57-64); the median body mass index was 24 (IQR 23-26.5). Tumors were located on the right side in 8 patients (40%) and left in 12 (60%). Median tumor size by radiologic imaging was 24.5 mm (IQR 22-30 mm). In more than 90%, the tumor was at least 50% exophytic.
