Outpatient/Ambulatory Surgery...What is it?

Outpatient surgery allows a person to return home on the same day that a surgical procedure is performed. Outpatient surgery is also referred to as ambulatory surgery or same day surgery.

With improved technology and advances in anesthesia and pain control, many less invasive surgical procedures are now being performed on an outpatient, or ambulatory
 basis. Common procedures that are now routinely performed on an outpatient basis include tonsillectomies, hernia repairs, some cosmetic procedures, hemorrhoidectomy, colonoscopies and cataract surgeries. Given the millions of procedures performed every year, complications from outpatient procedures are relatively uncommon.

Not all patients are candidates for outpatient surgery and some procedures still require hospitalization. A patient’s medical history and the advice of the surgeon and anesthesiologist are important in determining if the procedure is best performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF OUTPATIENT SURGERY?

There are many advantages of outpatient surgery over traditional surgery.
These include the following:

CONVENIENCE: The convenience of recovering in your home generally makes recovery time quicker and easier than an in-hospital stay.

LOWER COST: Since there are no hospital room charges, and related hospital charges, costs are much lower for outpatient surgery. Some insurance companies will cover certain surgical procedures only on an outpatient basis, unless your physician certifies that you require a more intensive level of post-operative care due to an underlying medical condition.

REDUCED STRESS: In the majority of cases, outpatient surgery is less stressful than inpatient surgery.
Most people prefer to recover in their homes rather than in the hospital.

SCHEDULING IS MORE PREDICTABLE: In a hospital setting, emergencies and procedures that take longer than expected can delay scheduled surgeries. An outpatient setting can generally stay within a set schedule since the procedures are simpler and more routine.

 

The safety and efficacy of ambulatory anorectal surgery have been verified by numerous studies. Learn More.