Unplanned inpatient admissions in a day surgery service in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the cause of inpatient admissions in the first 50 months of a day surgery service in Hong Kong. Method: A retrospective analysis of all unplanned inpatient admissions from the Day Surgery Centre in Tung Wah Hospital from November 1995 to December 1999 was undertaken. The causes of admission were classified and analysed to whether they might be avoidable. Results and conclusion: Two percent of the 1688 day‐patients required inpatient admission. The commonest cause of admission was extended surgery followed by retention of urine. None of the admissions was due to a major complication. Over one‐third of admissions might be avoidable.