Day case surgery and developing countries: a review

Day case surgery (DCS) is increasingly practiced all over the world but with a lag between the developed and developing continents. While it has witnessed a boom in the continents of America and Europe culminating in the establishment of Freestanding and autonomous units, the developing countries still largely practice hospital based day cases with relatively limited scope and utilization.

This article reviews the evolution, scope, safety, organisation including the standard necessary for establishing and practicing day case surgery and examines the practice in the developing world.

Electronic literature search combined with review of both local journals and relevant texts.

There is increasing need, applicability, potentials and relevance of day case surgery in the developing world with potential huge economic and social benefits.

As modern day case surgery practice requires dedicated services with meticulous attention equal to that given to in-patients, efforts should be focused on providing efficient services, in well structured centres, ploughing back resources to improve infrastructural/organisational deficiencies and acquiring relevant technology with skills in the developing world.