A narrative review on the performance and outcomes of penile and scrotal surgery in the ambulatory setting.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, surgical wait times have surged, creating a backlog in elective urological procedures. This review aims to address the need to explore ambulatory care for penile and scrotal surgeries, which can offer benefits by shifting these procedures away from traditional inpatient settings.

Recent findings: Recent studies confirm the safety and efficacy of performing penile and scrotal procedures in an ambulatory setting using local anesthesia (LA) or loco-sedative techniques. Of 616 reviewed cases, over 90% of patients expressed high satisfaction with LA and reported minimal postoperative complications. Pain management advancements, particularly the use of liposomal bupivacaine, reduced the need for opioids postoperatively. Importantly, no intraoperative complications or hospital admissions were reported, and adverse events were managed conservatively. The data highlighted in this review supports a move towards outpatient surgeries as a safe alternative to inpatient care for select cases.

Summary: This review highlights the strong potential for ambulatory urological surgeries to alleviate surgical backlogs significantly, while reducing strain on hospital resources, and maintaining high levels of patient satisfaction. As evidence continues to grow on the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of LA in office-based procedures, expanding ambulatory urological will be quintessential in modernizing patient care and reducing healthcare burdens.