Is there a role for more day-case septal surgery?

A significant number of patients requiring septal surgery are still undergoing in-patient procedures at a time when pressures on in-patient beds are increasing.

A retrospective audit of 109 patient case notes was performed to assess the potential for day-case surgery amongst patients undergoing septal surgery in the ENT department at Leicester Royal Infirmary. The other aims of the audit were to assess the overall complication rates, because these have implications for day-case surgical patients, and to see which patients should be selected.

Overall, the study group had a haemorrhage rate of six per cent and a potential for 92 per cent of cases to be performed as day-case procedures.

Day-case septal surgery, if utilized appropriately, has great potential in reducing the pressure on inpatient beds.