Experience with ambulatory anaesthesia in gynaecological patients

Ambulatory surgical care is becoming a common feature in Nigeria. Reports on the role of anaesthesia on outcome of surgery in ambulatory setting are rather scanty. In a 24-month period all patients who had gynaecological operations on ambulatory setting were identified and their hospital records reviewed. Sociodemographic characteristics, intraoperative variables, postoperative outcome and postoperative pain management were studied. A total of 28 patients had anaesthesia for various gynaecological procedures. All the patients were in the age range of 20-41 years and American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status 1. Majority of the patients (71.4%) arrived for day care admission. General anaesthesia with relaxant technique of anaesthesia was the most commonly used technique of anaesthesia (75.0%). Late completion of surgery accounted for 70% (n = 7) of late discharges. Postdural puncture headache (PDPH) was the only adverse outcome seen in our study. Ambulatory anaesthesia is safe, efficient and promising for gynaecological day care procedures.