Selecting the patient for major ambulatory surgery. Surgical and anesthesiology evaluations

In assessing the patient as a candidate for major ambulatory surgery, the surgeon must make an individual and specific judgment concerning the suitability of each patient. Factors to be considered include the patient's age, general physical and mental condition, anesthetic risk, attitudes about ambulatory surgery, and social and family situation, as well as whether the current standards and customs for ambulatory surgery in that community encompass the proposed procedure. Candidates for anesthesia can be ranked with the classification of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.