Table 4.
Meeting criteria for discharge according to age grouping
| Age group | ||||
| Group A | Group B | Group C | P value | |
| (n = 112) | (n = 57) | (n = 56) | ||
| Fluid intakea | 1 (0-5) | 1 (0-7) | 1 (0-7) | 0.039 |
| Soft diet | 2 (1-6) | 2 (1-13) | 2 (1-9) | NS |
| Early mobilization | 1 (0-3) | 1 (0-7) | 1 (0-4) | NS |
| Walking | 1 (0-4) | 2 (1-8) | 2 (1-8) | NS |
| Bowel open to gas | 1 (0-6) | 1 (0-4) | 1 (0-4) | NS |
| Bowel open to stoolsa | 2 (0-8) | 3 (1-9) | 3 (1-9) | 0.002 |
| Pain control with oral analgesics | 3 (2-4) | 3 (1-5) | 3 (1-4) | NS |
| Length of stay | 5 (2-40) | 5 (3-26) | 6 (3-22) | NS |
| Ready for discharge on POD 3, n (%) | 72 (64.3) | 35 (61.4) | 27 (48.2) | NS |
| Time to readiness for dischargea | 3 (3-35) | 3 (3-22) | 4 (3-18) | 0.040 |
| Discharge delay | 1 (0-8) | 2 (0-8) | 2 (0-4) | NS |
a
P < 0.05. Data are expressed as number of patients (%) or median (range). POD: Post-operative day.