Same-day Discharge after Robotic Hysterectomy for Benign Conditions: Feasibility and Safety

Factors influencing same-day discharge after minimally invasive hysterectomy for malignant and non-malignant gynecological diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To explore the factors influencing the successful implementation of same-day discharge in patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for malignant and non-malignant gynecological diseases.

Method

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and Clinical Trials.gov from inception to May 23, 2023. We included case-control and cohort studies published in English reporting same-day discharge factors in patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for malignant and non-malignant gynecological diseases. STATA 16.0 was used for the meta-analysis. Risk factors were assessed using odds ratios (OR) (relative risk (RR)/hazard ratios (HR)) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and logistic regression determined the same-day discharge rate (%).

Results

We analyzed 29 studies with 218192 patients scheduled for or meeting same-day discharge criteria. The pooled rates were 50% (95% CI 0.46-0.55), and were similar for malignant and non-malignant gynecological diseases (48% and 47%, respectively). In terms of basic characteristics, an increase in age (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05), BMI (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.03), and comorbidities including diabetes and lung disease were risk factors affecting SDD, while previous abdominal surgery history (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 0.93-2.55) and hypertension (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 0.80-2.93) appeared not to affect SDD. In terms of surgical characteristics, radical hysterectomy (OR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.90-6.29), surgery starting after 14:00 (OR: 4.07; 95% CI: 1.36-12.17), longer surgical time (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06), intraoperative complications (OR: 4.68; 95% CI: 1.78-12.27), postoperative complications (OR: 3.97; 95% CI: 1.68-9.39), and surgeon preference (OR: 4.47; 95% CI: 2.08-9.60) were identified as risk factors. However, robotic surgery (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.14-1.42) and intraoperative blood loss (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.98-1.38) did not affect same-day discharge.

Conclusions

An increase in age, body mass index, and distance to home; certain comorbidities (e.g., diabetes, lung disease), radical hysterectomy, surgery starting after 14:00, longer surgical time, operative complications, and surgeon preference were risk factors preventing same-day discharge. Same-day discharge rates were similar between malignant and non-malignant gynecological diseases. The surgery start time and body mass index have a greater impact on same-day discharge for malignant diseases than non-malignant diseases.

A retrospective analysis of robot-assisted total hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery

Objective

The present study aimed to explore the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted total hysterectomy by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES).

Methods

In this study, the clinical data of 37 patients who underwent da Vinci robot-assisted total hysterectomy by vNOTES between September 1, 2019 and March 31, 2022 at the Department of Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical characteristics, operative postoperative complications, surgical outcomes, and postoperative pain scores were collected and analyzed.

Results

The average age of the patients included in the study was 47.43 ± 4.44 years. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the formula BMI = body weight (kg)/height2 (m2). The average BMI was 23.16 ± 2.72 kg/m2. Among the 37 patients, 30 patients underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy, of which 11 patients underwent ovarian cystectomy simultaneously. Among these 11 patients, three had bilateral ovarian cysts and eight had unilateral ovarian cysts, with the largest cyst diameter measuring 8 cm. The remaining seven patients underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The average operative time was 86.19 ± 17.83 min, and the estimated intraoperative blood loss was 24.46 ± 15.40 mL, with no intraoperative complications reported. The time to the first postoperative exhaust was 18.51 ± 6.63 h, and the average postoperative length of hospital stay was 3.81 ± 1.05 days. The postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were 5.30 ± 0.91 at 24 h after surgery, 3.30 ± 0.70 at 36 h after surgery, and 1.14 ± 0.92 at 48 h after surgery. Only one patient experienced a fever exceeding 38.5 °C, which resolved after receiving antibiotic treatment.

Conclusion

The use of the da Vinci robot-assisted total hysterectomy by vNOTES demonstrated safety and offers several advantages. These include reduced surgical trauma, an aesthetic incision, decreased pain, and shorter duration of postoperative exhaust time and hospital stay. These benefits contribute to accelerated postoperative rehabilitation.