DEVELOPMENT OF A “FAST-TRACK” PROTOCOL FOR HYDROCELE SURGERY

Objectives: To describe a multimodal recovery protocol (fast-track surgery) for hydrocele surgery, as developed by our urology department over the course of the last 10 years. Likewise, our aim was to demonstrate the use of this protocol improves the cost effectiveness of the procedure, compared to the classical procedure which requires hospital admission and general or spinal anaesthesia. Material and Methods: We compared two groups of patients. The first group underwent hydrocelectomy under our multimodal recovery protocol in an outpatient setting, with data collected prospectively, while the second group of patients underwent hydrocelectomy before the implementation of the multimodal recovery protocol, with hospital admission and general or spinal anesthesia, with data collected retrospectively. The results obtained were assessed and satisfaction degree ascertained by survey. Results: The results obtained with fast-track protocol were comparable to those of conventional surgery. Only two of the patients needed to be admitted in hospital due to postoperative complications, which it was not related with the outpatient setting treatment. The satisfaction degree with the treatment was found to be over 95%. Conclusions: Virtually all patients affected by hydroceles could be suitable candidates for a fast-track surgery programme, with the consequent improvement in cost-effectiveness of the procedure with no reduction of the quality of care received or patient satisfaction.