[Satisfaction in ambulatory patients with breast-conserving surgery and sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer]

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate outpatient satisfaction for breast cancer surgery and compare with inpatient satisfaction.

Patients and methods: Our observational prospective study included all patients who underwent breast cancer surgical procedure (breast-conserving surgery and sentinel node biopsy) between July and December 2013 in a cancer center. Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire at discharge and 30 days after surgery.

Results: One hundred and fifty-five patients (exclusively women) were included; the outpatient group comprised 102 patients and the inpatient group 53. The study showed no statistical difference in patients' satisfaction betweeen the two groups at discharge (P=0.20) and 30 days after surgery (P=0.30); 101 (99%) outpatients and 44 (95.7%) inpatients had very good or excellent level of satisfaction at discharge and 88 (92,7%) and 49 (98%), respectively 30 days after surgery. The overall mean satisfaction score was 9.1±1.2 [3-10] at discharge and 8.7±1.3 [3-10] 30 days after surgery.

Discussion and conclusion: Our study found high degree of satisfaction after breast surgery for cancer both for outpatients and inpatients. This suggests that ambulatory surgery is possible and valid for this type of oncologic breast surgery.