Early Discharge Proves Safe After Uncomplicated Colectomy

This retrospective study explored the relationship between postoperative discharge timing and complications in patients who underwent uncomplicated elective colectomy. Findings from over 113,000 patients revealed that early discharge (≥3 days for laparoscopic/robotic, or ≥5 days for open surgery) after minimally invasive colectomy significantly lowered the odds of post-discharge complications. The same benefit wasn’t observed in open surgery. Importantly, there were no notable differences in the risk of return to the operating room. This suggests that early discharge is a safe option for select patients, especially in minimally invasive approaches.