The treatment of breast cancer in one day surgery. A four year experience

Abstract

The number of short-stay surgery procedures has progressively increased since the concept of short-stay surgery was first introduced. Initially this type of surgery was reserved for patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair, proctological surgery,and various minor procedures. Careful patient selection makes it possible to apply one-day surgery to other surgical specialties including breast cancer surgery. Reducing the length of hospital stay lowers health care costs, and shortens waiting lists. The most important benefits for patients are a more rapid return to work and positive psychological effects.

Exclusion criteria for one-day surgery are the lack of home care, excessive distance from place of treatment and the presence of any concomitant pathology that is a contraindication to this type of surgery.

We report our experience in oncological surgery of the breast in one-day surgery