[Evaluation of anesthetic techniques in ambulatory surgery]

Many of the surgical procedures performed in the hospital can be done on an out-patient basis, provided an appropriate anesthetic technique is applied to allow the patient to return home comfortably and safely. Choice of anesthetic technique must always be made in keeping with patient characteristics and type of surgery. Treatment of anxiety in a preoperative interview or by giving tranquilizers will be beneficial to all patients, as will reduction of gastric secretion by administration of H2 receptor blockers. Dehydrobenzoperidol at a dose of 0.5 to 1.125 mg in adults will antagonize the emetic effects of opioids, without prolonging recovery time. Propofol, alfentanyl, atracurium or vecuronium require the shortest recovery time. For epidural anesthesia, we use lidocaine and mepivacaine. Truncal blocks, endovenous regional anesthesia, and brachial plexus, retrobulbar and peribulbar blocks are all appropriate techniques for out-patient surgery.