Introduction: Patients are routinely discharged postoperative day 1 following minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for prostate cancer and kidney cancer. Delays in discharge are often related to gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting; however, the role of baseline constipation in these symptoms and resultant delays in discharge is unclear. We conducted a prospective observational study to describe the incidence of baseline constipation among patients undergoing MIS prostate and kidney surgery, and its relationship to length of stay (LOS).
Methods: Consenting adult patients undergoing MIS procedures for kidney and prostate cancer completed constipation symptom questionnaires perioperatively. Clinicopathological data were collected prospectively. Delay in discharge, defined as LOS >2 days, was the primary outcome. Patients were stratified by the primary outcome and preoperative Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) scores were compared.
Results: A total of 97 patients enrolled, of whom 29 underwent radical nephrectomy, 34 underwent robotic partial nephrectomy and 34 underwent robotic prostatectomy. Constipation symptoms were reported in 67/97 patients (69%). A total of 17/97 patients (18%) had a delay in discharge. Patients who discharged on time had a median PAC-SYM score of 2 (IQR 2-9) compared to 4 (IQR 0-7.5) for those with a delay (p=0.021). Patients who had a delay with gastrointestinal symptoms had a median PAC-SYM score of 5 (IQR 1.5-11.5, p=0.032).
Conclusions: Seven out of 10 patients undergoing routine MIS procedures report constipation symptoms, which may represent a target for preoperative interventions to reduce LOS after surgery.
Keywords: gastrointestinal motility; kidney neoplasms; length of stay; prostatic neoplasms.