O041 Utilising digital follow-up after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a feasibility study. (22nd July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Daliya, P; Carvell, J; Rozentals, J; Lobo, DN; Parsons, SL
• Is Part Of: British journal of surgery. Volume 109(2022)Supplement 4
• Publication Date: 2022-07-22
• Subjects: Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znac242.041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1323

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Cholecystectomy is one of many operations performed nationally for which routine postoperative follow-up is no longer offered. National guidelines recommend patients are offered a postoperative helpline or telephone follow-up (TFU) appointment at discharge. Whilst the benefits of TFU are well documented, the use of digital modalities is less so. The objective of this study was to identify if digital follow-up (DFU) using an online platform, was equivalent to TFU. Methods: Patients listed for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy between August 2016 and March 2018 were given free choice to opt for postoperative DFU or routine postoperative care (TFU or no follow-up) at a tertiary referral centre in Nottingham. Primary objectives were to identify the incidence of 30-day postoperative complications identified by DFU compared with TFU. Secondary objectives were identifying the incidence of readmissions at 30-days, reoperations at 30-days, the incidence of missed complications at 30-days, and compliance with follow-up between groups. Results: Of 597 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 199 (33.3%) opted for TFU, and 98 for (16.4%) DFU. DFU was completed for 85 (86.7%) participants and TFU for 125 (62.8%), p<0.0001. Over 5 times as many patients who chose TFU missed their appointment compared with choosing DFU (5.6% vs. 30.9%, p < 0.001). DFU was completed earlier than TFU (median 6 days vs. 13.5 days, p=0.001) with high patient acceptability, identifying complications and alerting clinicians to those patients requiring early review. Conclusion: This feasibility study has demonstrated that DFU is an acceptable alternative to TFU after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.