[Surgical management of non-palpable breast lesions in ambulatory care].

Objective: The aim of our study was to assess if surgery for non-palpable breast lesions could be compatible with a walk-in case hospitalization setting.

Method: We retrospectively compared 75 patients with a traditional hospital stay to 68 patients with a walking case hospitalization. Overall 143 patients were treated during 1997. Studied parameters were: the quality of the surgical results, the duration of the hospital stay and the post operatives complications. Statistical analysis was realized using the chi 2 test.

Results: There was no difference between the studied populations according to the quality of surgical results either the post operatives complications.

Conclusion: Surgery for non palpable breast lesions can be performed during a one day surgery. The reduction of the duration of the hospital stay decrease the cost of health care system. We should follow the evaluation of the walking case hospitalization for the breast cancer surgery especially when an axillary lymphadenectomy have to be performed.