[Day care. A seminar about why and how]

We describe a seminar on day care surgery and give a summary of the lectures and discussions. Updated waiting lists, good administration of waiting lists, and good planning of the operations are important for successful day care surgery. Many departments hospitalize patients for minor and intermediate surgery, such as hernia and varicose veins, which could have been treated by day care surgery. The general health of the patients and their social conditions are important when choosing between day care surgery and hospitalization. The distance to the hospital and the patients' age are less important. It is essential to inform the patients properly about the procedures. Day care surgery gives good medical results and a high quality of care at lower cost than hospitalization. Patients who can be treated by day care surgery should be given this opportunity.