RESUMO
Breast surgery on an outpatient basis has been indicated by control trials to investigate the efficacy of mass screening with single-view mammography in reducing mortality. These trials have also increased surgery in benign breast pathology. Sixty patients were investigated and forty-seven answered a questionnaire. Ninety-two per cent of those who answered were satisfied with this short-stay hospitalisation and ninety-four per cent would be willing to do the same again if necessary. Seventeen per cent of the patients would have preferred to stay in the hospital the night after surgery. All patients preferred to be admitted the morning of surgery. Forty-three per cent of patients had local or regional anaesthesia and were satisfied to know the diagnosis during surgery. All personnel of the health service concerned find a benefit of this outpatient arrangement, that is, both patients and hospital authorities. This has been found to be a cost-saving measure as well as an effective way of diagnosing and treating benign breast tumors.
