[Contribution of ambulatory digestive surgery]

In France, ambulatory surgery is controlled by specific regulations which outline the organization of the facilities. It is practiced less in France than in other countries, but specific governmental incentive policies have been instituted. The characteristic feature of digestive surgery is the high occurrence of post-operative nausea and vomiting due to the peritoneal incision. New surgical procedures and anesthetic regimens allow ambulatory care in children and adults. But the choice of ambulatory care is based on the patient's characteristics more than on surgical procedure and follows well-known selection criteria. The procedures concerned in general surgery are groin hernia repair, proctologic surgery, and subcutaneous tissue surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and neck surgery in increasing numbers of patients on an ambulatory basis is the first step before expanding ambulatory surgical procedures toward major surgery. Physicians must have a thorough knowledge of ambulatory surgery as an organizational concept.