Fast-track surgery concepts for congenital urogenital anomalies.

AIM To investigate the possibility of fast-track surgery concepts in pediatric urology department as a single center study model of a developing country. MATERIAL OF STUDY The study included 1620 patients surgically treated at the pediatric urology department, from 2009 to 2011. According to the congenital anomalies, all patients were classified in one of four groups: I - testicular anomalies (197 patients); II - external genital anomalies (453); III - upper urinary tract anomalies (801) and IV - associated anomalies (169). We analyzed the total duration of stay in the hospital of all patients among all treating doctors concerning the anomaly. RESULTS Statistically significant difference in total length of hospitalization of all patients in Group I was noted in Doctors 1 and 5 (F=10.36** for F0.05;5;12=3.11 and F0.01;5;12=5.06), as well as in the Group II (F=17.01** for F0.05;5;12=3.11 and F0.01;5;12=5.06). Statistical analysis was not possible to be performed in groups III and IV because of lack of the patients. DISCUSSION Analyzing the length of hospitalization of the patients treated at the urology department, all doctors showed the tendency to shorten the total length of hospitalization in patients of all groups. Majority of the studies carried out on pediatric urology departments in developed countries, showed that over 50% of children were successfully treated using fast-track surgery concept. CONCLUSIONS Modern methods of surgical management and anesthesia allow decrease of hospitalization length, financial savings to the healthcare system and better comfort for patients.