Return to work after general surgery: a comparative study

Purposes: There is scarce information on the time to return to work after general surgery. The
aim of this study was to analyze time off work after elective cholecystectomy and to compare
the results with those in patients undergoing other surgical interventions.
Methods: Observational and comparative study. Inclusion criteria were: being of working age
and undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (group 1) or unilateral inguinal hernia
or haemorrhoidectomy (group 2).
Results: 36 patients were included: 18 patients in each group. Overall, return to work occurred
at a mean of 35.7 days, with no significant differences (p = 0.656) between groups (group 1:
36.6 days vs. group 2: 35.44 days). The reasons for not returning to work earlier were fear
of complications (37.5%), pain control (37.5%), surgeon recommendation (12.5%), and general
practitioner recommendation (12.5%).
Conclusions: Time to recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is prolonged. No statistically
significant differences with less complex surgical procedures were detected.