Study Shows Same-Day Discharge Safe for Older Women Undergoing Breast Cancer Mastectomy
New research reveals that older women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer can safely leave hospitals on the same day, reducing unnecessary overnight stays without increasing complications. This approach enhances recovery and hospital resource efficiency.
A recent pilot study from the University of Rochester Medical Center and Wilmot Cancer Institute has found that women aged 65 and older, including those in their 90s, can safely be discharged from the hospital on the same day as undergoing a mastectomy for breast cancer. The research indicates that same-day discharge does not increase the risk of post-surgical complications, challenging traditional hospitalization practices.
The study was conducted over a 10-month period in 2023, in which 32 of 55 older patients (56%) were discharged on the day of their surgery, a significant increase from 18% in the previous year. The average age of participants was 72, with some much older, yet most were found to be not frail according to a professional geriatric index. Only a small number of patients required prehabilitation or additional support before surgery.
Interestingly, patients who stayed overnight in the hospital experienced a higher rate of complications like blood clots and infections compared to those discharged the same day. These findings suggest that carefully selected older patients with well-managed comorbidities and robust support systems can recover effectively at home.
This shift toward outpatient mastectomy care reflects broader motions in healthcare prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which emphasized resource optimization and outpatient procedures. The researchers also plan to gather feedback from patients about their recovery experiences at home, with preliminary results indicating no major concerns.
Dr. Jessica Gooch, the study's lead author, emphasized the cultural shift in post-operative care, noting that many elderly patients do well outside the hospital setting. The study highlights that age alone does not determine surgical outcomes and that many older individuals can recover faster and more comfortably in familiar surroundings.
The research underscores the importance of personalized care plans based on individual health status rather than age, aiming to improve recovery quality while reducing hospital stays. The findings are especially relevant for regions with a higher-than-average older population, such as the Rochester catchment area in New York.
The study has been published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology and contributes to ongoing efforts to optimize surgical care for aging populations while ensuring safety and quality recovery.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-breast-cancer-surgery-overnight-hospital.html
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