About Us | Privacy | Site Map
February 3, 2012
Font Size
A
A
A
1
...

Outpatient Surgery

Medical Author:
Coauthor:
Medical Editor:
Medical Editor:
Medical Editor:

Outpatient Surgery Introduction

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.

  • Outpatient surgery eliminates inpatient hospital admission, reduces the amount of medication prescribed, and uses a doctor's time more efficiently. More procedures are now being performed in a surgeon's office, termed office-based surgery, rather than in an operating room.

  • Outpatient surgery is suited best for healthy people undergoing minor or intermediate procedures (limited urologic, ophthalmologic, or ear, nose, and throat procedures and procedures involving the extremities). Recently, people with more complex medical problems are undergoing outpatient surgery, and the types and complexity of surgical procedures have expanded significantly.

  • More than 60% of elective surgery procedures in the United States are currently performed as outpatient surgeries. Health experts expect this percentage will increase to nearly 75% over the next decade.

  • Outpatient surgery has developed over the past 3 decades for a number of reasons, including the following:
     
    • Improved surgical instruments

    • Less invasive surgical techniques

    • A team approach in preparing a person for surgery and home recovery that involves both a surgeon and an anesthesiologist (a medical doctor who specializes in administering anesthesia medications so the patient feels no pain and does not remember the surgery)

    • The desire to reduce health care costs

1
...

Women's Health

Find out what women really need.



Outpatient Surgery

Topic Overview

What are outpatient services?

Outpatient services are medical procedures or tests that can be done in a medical center without an overnight stay. Many procedures and tests can be done in a few hours. Outpatient services include:

  • Wellness and prevention, such as counseling and weight loss programs.
  • Diagnosis, such as lab tests and MRI scans.
  • Treatment, such as some surgeries and chemotherapy.
  • Rehabilitation, such as drug or alcohol rehab and physical therapy.

What are the benefits of choosing outpatient services?

Outpatient services usually cost less, because you don't need to stay overnight. Staff members at outpatient centers are well trained in the service they provide. Most of the time, these centers specialize in one kind of treatment or procedure. Often all the care you need can be provided in one place.

Who uses outpatient services?

Most people can ...

Read the Outpatient Services article »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Outpatient Surgical Suite »

Dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons have played major roles in the development and refinement of many office-based cutaneous surgical procedures.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

Medical Dictionary


Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick,
    easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including
    24 hour
    pharmacies