Ambulatory Anesthesia

Ambulatory surgery refers to surgical procedures that are done on a day-care basis, where patients are discharged home the same day of admission and do not require hospitalization. Due to low cost economics, ambulatory surgical procedures are being increasingly performed in recent years (Table 30.1). The cornerstone of ambulatory practice is early and rapid recovery of the patient. Newer surgical and anesthesia techniques, postoperative pain management advances, and optimal prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) have largely been responsible for improved ambulatory care. Increasing surgical procedures performed under monitored anesthesia care (MAC), regional anesthesia techniques, and general anesthesia techniques with shortacting drugs are the basis of the early discharge. At the same time, safety of the patient is paramount, and therefore, various guidelines and recommendations have been formulated.