Abstract
Objective: To determine the operative and postoperative factors which prolong the hospital stay after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Methodology: This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out at Dow University Hospital on 75 patients from August 2017 to April 2018 who underwent uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy and stayed longer than 24 hours in the hospital postoperatively. Operative and postoperative factors like fever, pain, ileus, Surgeon’s advice, Patient’s wish, long operative time, bleeding from liver bed and dense adhesions at Calot’s triangle were assessed. Analysis was done using SPSS version 21.
Results: Most patients were female 62 (82.7%), whereas only 13 (17.3%) were male. Mean age was 40.97±12.23 years. Most commonly observed operative factor was long duration of surgery in 8 (66.7%). Most commonly observed postoperative factor was surgeon’s advice in 37 (64.9%) patients, followed by patient’s preference in 10 (17.5%) patients
Conclusion: Patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be safely discharged home the same day and it should be practiced as a daycare procedure.

Key words: Laparoscopic, cholecystectomy, ambulatory, daycare, safe, postoperative, early, discharge.