[Ambulatory surgery in the hospital--analysis of a 1978-1994 patient sample]

In the outpatient department of the University hospital of the Technology University Dresden ambulatory surgery has been performed since 1965. The patients of 16 years were analyzed. From 1978 till VI/1994 we have carried out 13948 elective operations. The personal wish of a cooperative patient without risk factors and an orderly social surrounding are the prerequisites for carrying out outpatient operations. Applied anaesthetic techniques were: general anaesthesia 9.2%, spinal anaesthesia 7.1%, sacral anaesthesia 14.8%, nerveblock of the upper extremity 11.1 and infiltration anaesthesia 57.8%. On the day of operation 61 patients had to be admitted to the hospital because of intraoperative events, expansion of the operation and complications of anaesthesia. Between the first to eight postoperative day 23 patients were hospitalised due to bleeding and 1 patient due to a wound infection. After aseptic elective operations 33 patients (0.35%) and after proctology operations with primary wound closure 10% of the patients developed wound infections. The cooperation of the general practitioner must be ensured in the post-operative days. Outpatient operations lower the financial burden of the health insurance companies, medical care services can be reduced.