Bariatric Surgery in the Age of Hospital at Home: Home Sweet Home or Hidden Risks?
摘要
Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and early postoperative outcomes of Hospital at Home (HaH) management in patients undergoing bariatric surgery, compared with conventional hospitalization (CH). Methods In this monocentric, retrospective observational study, 117 patients underwent Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) bypass between April 2023 and May 2025. Among them, 37 patients were discharged to HaH after one postoperative night, while 80 remained under CH. HaH was systematically proposed to all eligible patients without pre-selection, though those who opted for post-discharge rehabilitation were by definition excluded from HaH. Clinical, operative, and early postoperative outcomes were compared between groups. Results Preoperative characteristics, including sex, BMI, and associated medical problems, were comparable; age was significantly lower in the HaH group. No statistically significant differences were observed in early complication rates (HaH: 13,5%; CH: 11,2%, p = 0,76), reoperation rates (HaH: 5,4%; CH: 2.5%, p = 0,59), or readmission rates (HaH: 10.8%; CH: 3.8%, p = 0.28) suggesting similar safety profiles. Patient satisfaction with HaH was high. Close coordination between the surgical team and HaH providers enabled effective home-based postoperative monitoring. Conclusion These findings support HaH as a viable alternative to inpatient care in routine bariatric patients, aligning with enhanced recovery principles and offering a patient-centered approach that may help optimize surgical pathways and resource use.
Graphical Abstract