Outpatient surgery consists of performing an elective surgical procedure in the context of a day-only admission. This type of management is the result of sociological changes and allows a reduction of the cost. Hemithyroidectomy is a well-defined surgical procedure with known complications. The authors assessed the feasibility, patient satisfaction and cost of outpatient hemithyroidectomy.

One hundred and forty-six hemithyroidectomies were performed between August 2011 and September 2012. Inclusion criteria for outpatient surgery were surgical, anaesthetic and patient-dependent. Exclusion criteria were related to the bleeding risk, socio-economic conditions and the patient's understanding of the procedure. Preoperative information and the modalities of anaesthesia, surgery, postoperative surveillance and follow-up were standardized. Patient satisfaction was evaluated by questionnaire and cost was evaluated on the basis of medical information department data.

Forty patients were eligible and 34 patients agreed to outpatient surgery (M/F sex ratio: 1/4; mean age: 46±6.3years), but only 32 operations were performed on an outpatient basis. Two conversions to conventional hospitalisation were required, one because of preoperative initiation of platelet anti-aggregants and the other because of nausea. One patient remained in hospital on the day after the operation because of severe asthenia and nausea.

Patients were satisfied with this type of management and 100% of them reported that they would repeat the experience. The economy for our establishment was €711 per patient. This procedure improves patient comfort without increasing the risks and allows a reduction of management costs.