Early discharge after surgery for breast cancer is safe

The stay in hospital after surgery for cancer is steadily being reduced. On p 1275 Bundred et al report the effects of early discharge from hospital after surgery for breast cancer in a randomised trial of 100 women. Women who were discharged two days after surgery with their drains intact had a lower incidence of shoulder stiffness and had reduced wound pain compared with women who were discharged after removal of their drain. Psychosocial problems were similar in both groups, and satisfaction with both discharge policies was high. The authors conclude that early discharge after surgery for breast cancer is safe.


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Relevant Article

Randomised controlled trial of effects of early discharge after surgery for breast cancer

Nigel Bundred, Peter Maguire, Jill Reynolds, Jill Grimshaw, Julie Morris, Lesley Thomson, Lester Barr, and Andrew Baildam
BMJ 1998 317: 1275-1279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]