Anesthetic considerations for ambulatory and office-based otolaryngologic surgery

Ambulatory and office-based otolaryngologic procedures are increasingly performed as advances in endoscopic technology, anesthesia techniques, and perioperative care enable complex interventions outside the inpatient setting. This review summarizes current anesthetic considerations for ambulatory and office-based ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery, emphasizing patient selection, perioperative risk stratification, and airway management.

Recent literature highlights the expanding role of office-based procedures as safe and cost-effective alternatives to operating room interventions when appropriate patient selection and monitoring are applied. Preoperative assessment should evaluate airway history, anatomic accessibility, and comorbid conditions such as obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. Evidence supports opioid-sparing analgesic strategies and selective postoperative monitoring to facilitate safe same-day discharge. In sinonasal surgery, airway protection and hemodynamic management remain key anesthetic considerations. Pediatric ENT procedures require particular attention to oxygen reserve, airway reactivity, and sedation risk. In laryngology, shared-airway procedures necessitate close surgeon-anesthesiologist coordination, while topical anesthesia techniques and targeted nerve blocks have improved tolerability of office-based laryngeal interventions.

Ambulatory and office-based otolaryngologic surgery can be performed safely when anesthetic management is tailored to patient- and procedure-specific risks. Careful patient selection, detailed airway assessment, and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to maintaining safety while expanding access to minimally invasive ENT procedures.