Implementation of a short-stay programme after breast cancer surgery

Background: : Short-stay breast cancer surgery (24 h or day case) is not common practice in Europe. This before-after comparative study was carried out to test the feasibility of systematically implementing a care programme incorporating short-stay admission using strategies tailored to individual hospital needs, and to assess safety and facilitating factors.

Methods: : Patients with breast cancer from four Dutch hospitals participated. The intervention concerned the programme developed by the Maastricht University Medical Centre. This was implemented through local multidisciplinary meetings and educational outreach visits.

Results: : Of 421 eligible patients, 324 (77.0 per cent) gave consent to participate. The proportion of patients who had short-stay treatment increased from 45.3 per cent before to 82.2 per cent after implementation of the programme (P < 0.001). No increase was observed in the rate of complications, readmissions, reoperations or number of visits to the emergency department. Factors associated with an increased chance of short-stay treatment were: breast-conserving surgery, having children and being employed. Being aged over 64 years showed a trend towards a decreased chance.

Conclusion: : Introducing a care programme incorporating short stay following breast cancer surgery in four hospitals was feasible and safe.