The future and safety of ambulatory surgery

Although many advances have occurred in anaesthesia within the last 50 years, the movement of surgical procedures from a hospital setting to an ambulatory environment has had a major impact on general health care. Several factors have driven this process, including advances in anaesthesia and technology, the desire by payers to reduce healthcare costs, the demonstration of patient safety and the positive experience of patients undergoing same-day surgery. The safety of ambulatory anaesthesia and surgery is well established. Greater emphasis is placed on minor side-effects, quality of life and patient satisfaction. Advances in technologies, which continue to move procedures out of the operating room and into imaging suites and the office, are driving the future of ambulatory anaesthesia and surgery. The Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia's Clinical Outcomes Registry database was established to enhance the quality of ambulatory anaesthesia, develop benchmarks and establish best practice. The future and growth of ambulatory anaesthesia is secure with the ageing population and advances in technology.