Implementation of a structured same-day discharge pathway following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a pilot study from a Latin American cancer center

To present the initial experience with a structured same-day discharge (SDD) pathway after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and to evaluate its early clinical outcomes in a high-volume Latin American cancer center. This observational pilot study evaluated the implementation of an institutional SDD pathway for patients undergoing RARP between June 2025 and February 2026. Eligible patients were selected according to predefined clinical, intraoperative, and social criteria and managed using a standardized perioperative pathway that included patient education, dedicated anesthetic management, discharge assessment, and scheduled postoperative telephone follow-up. The primary endpoint was successful implementation of the institutional SDD pathway, defined as discharge on the day of surgery without an unplanned overnight stay. Thirteen patients entered the SDD pathway, of whom ten (77%) were discharged on the day of surgery. Three patients remained hospitalized overnight because of changes in operative scheduling ( n = 2) or postoperative nausea requiring observation ( n = 1). Median age was 62 years, median body mass index was 25.5 kg/m², and median operative time was 130 min. The median time from the end of surgery to hospital discharge was 7.8 h (IQR 7.3–8.4; range 6.5–9.2). No intraoperative complications, major postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo grade ≥ III), or hospital readmissions were observed during the 30-day follow-up. One patient developed epididymo-orchitis on postoperative day 11 and was managed as an outpatient. The implementation of a structured institutional SDD pathway after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy was associated with favorable early clinical outcomes in appropriately selected patients. This initial experience supports the feasibility of a standardized perioperative pathway and provides a practical framework for centers considering same-day discharge after RARP. Larger multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings and evaluate patient-reported outcomes and cost-effectiveness.