Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Day care surgery offers cost containment, effective usage of hospital beds, reduced incidence of nosocomial infection and early recovery in home environment. In developing countries like India, there are various factors that influence the success of day care surgery. AIM: To assess the factors hindering the practice of day care surgery in a tertiary care centre in South India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, JIPMER, Puducherry, India, from January 2013 to March 2014. All male patients with uncomplicated inguinal hernia who were admitted for elective surgery under one particular surgery unit and who were found fit for discharge on Postoperative Day 1 (POD1) based on clinical fitness were included in the study. A questionnaire containing the patient's acceptance decision, VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) pain score and the reason for non acceptance if any was used for assessment. RESULTS: Among the 89 patients who were fit for discharge on POD1, the decision for discharge was accepted by 57 patients. 32 patients were not satisfied of the decision for discharge on POD1. The common reasons for dissatisfaction with the decision were persistent pain at operated site (13 patients with mean VAS score 8.3), non availability of health care resources in their locality (12 patients) and unwillingness to travel on POD1 (four patients). CONCLUSION: A comprehensive and well presented preoperative counselling along with an effective primary health service would help in promoting day care surgery in developing countries.