Abstract Aim To evaluate the safety and efficacy of virtual ward services in surgical patients. Methods Patients with acute cholecystitis, acute diverticulitis, any surgical condition or post operative patient that requires treatment and monitoring in virtual ward were included in the retrospective study from 1st January to 31st December 2024. Data was collected from hot clinic diary. As per protocol patients were reviewed in Hot clinic before discharge. Results one hundred and one patients (36 males, 65 females) were admitted in virtual ward during the span of one year. Age range from 25 to 88 years with median age of 58 years. Most common condition was acute diverticulitis in 41.5% followed by acute cholecystitis in 28.7% and acute pancreatitis in 10% of patients. Other conditions were acute appendicitis, hernia repair, bowel resection, stoma formation and drainage of collections. Eighty-two patients have received oral and three were kept on intravenous antibiotics. Mean length of stay in virtual ward was 7.7 days. Median White cells count on admission was 11X10⁹/L and on discharge was 7X10⁹/L. Median C-reactive protein on admission was 59 mg/L and on discharge was 9 mg/L. Ten patients (9.9%) were readmitted in the hospital due to worsening of symptoms, other medical conditions or raised inflammatory markers. Conclusion Management of surgical patients in virtual ward is a safe option. Careful selection of patients and communication with the patients especially about the need of monitoring and worsening of symptoms are the key components.
Jalali et al. (Fri,) studied this question.