Purpose: Ours aims were to assess the feasibility of short stay after conservative breast surgery when giving the choice to women, to identify women characteristics associated to short (less than 48 hours) or conventional stay and to confront satisfaction and anxiety of the two groups.
Methods: Women were able to choice the length of stay immediately after surgery. Afterwards they completed a questionnaire measuring pain, anxiety and satisfaction. Clinical data concerning surgery were also collected.
Results: The hospital stay was short for 114 women (75.5%) and conventional for 37 women (24.5%). Length of stay was related to education level (P = 0,021), general health status (ASA score) (P = 0,003), breast pain (P = 0,001), the number of wound drains (P = 0,005), cancer (P = 0,001) and satisfaction about hospitalisation (P = 0,022). Post-surgical morbidity was similar between groups, except prolonged axillary drainage more frequent in conventional stay group.
Conclusion: Women often chose a short stay after breast conservative surgery. This procedure is feasible routinely without heavy complication. Women preference for a short stay is real and could be improved by a better organisation, which ensure the continuity of care between hospital and home, with satisfaction assessment.