[A psychological approach to patients undergoing ambulatory surgery]

200 patients undergoing outpatient hand surgery were included in a sociological and psychological study. Certain points were found to be important: structure adapted to outpatient surgery, a single team, availability of the surgeon 24 hours a day, telephone call on the day after the operation, etc. Only 0.5% of operated patients claimed to be unhappy with their outpatient experience, but 2.5% would have preferred admission to hospital (for comfort reasons). Overall, outpatient procedures make the patient and his family responsible, by stimulating his cooperation and avoiding regression and dependence, frequently encountered in conventional hospitalization. Psychoanalysis has an important place in the pre- and postoperative approach to the patient.