1. What is ambulatory surgery?

Ambulatory surgery refers to any procedure or surgery where an overnight stay afterwards is not required. This allows a patient to return quickly to home and complete their recovery in comfortable and familiar surroundings. It has been proven to be a safe and cost-effective method which has a high satisfaction rate among patients.

2. Are there differences in anesthesia?

There are different concerns for the anesthesiologist when presented with a patient that is supposed to go home after the surgery. Short acting medications and other anesthetic techniques are utilized in combination to make this possible. Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will evaluate your specific medical condition and the type of surgery you are having to determine if ambulatory surgery is appropriate for you.

3. What are the types of anesthesia?

There are four types of anesthesia commonly employed - general, regional, monitored anesthesia care (MAC) and local. In very broad terms: general affects your entire body and may be given intravenously or as an inhaled gas. These medications make you dizzy or drowsy and cause you to lose consciousness. As a result of these medications, you might stop breathing on your own and therefore you might have breaths given to you through a mask or a small tube gently inserted into your lungs through your mouth. Regional anesthesia only affects a section of your body, making it numb. You may remain awake or be sedated. Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) involved medications given to make you drowsy and to relive pain. Local anesthesia affects only the location of surgery. It is usually injected, but can sometimes be given as a ointment, cream or spray. You may remain awake or be sedated for this as well. Additional details about anesthesia are in the Frequently Asked Questions about Anesthesia section.

4. What about eating and drinking?

You should not eat or drink anything before your surgery. You anesthesiologist will give you instructions about how long you need to fast. You should also refrain from smoking. Some types of surgery require you to be fasting in order to aid in the actual surgery (stomach surgery for example) or to reduce the chances of infection. Anesthesia is a risk when it is given with a full stomach as well and can result in what is known as aspiration. Basically, aspiration occurs when stomach contents end up in the lungs - this can lead to a serious pneumonia and a life threatening situation. After the surgery, you will be given sips of clear liquids first and then allowed to eat a light meal when you are able.

5. Why do I need someone to take me home?

The effects of the medications used in anesthesia may last up to twenty-four hours before they fully disappear. You may also need someone to stay with you at home during this first twenty-four hours to assist with your care. This is for your own safety - often patients feel awake and normal while still under the effects of anesthesia and might believe that they can perform all their normal activities. This is not true! Be safe!

6. What about medications?

You need to consult with your physicians about which of your regular medications you should and should not take prior to surgery. Once your surgery is completed, you will receive instructions about when to resume your normal medication regimen. You may also receive additional medications such as pain killers or antibiotics after the surgery.

7. Will I feel sick? What about other side effects?

It is possible that you might experience some nausea and vomiting. This is usually not serious and can be treated with medication. You might have a sore throat if you received general anesthesia with a breathing tube. This is not dangerous or life threatening and should resolve on its own in a few days. You may have pain from the surgery and should inform your medical care team so that you can receive medications for pain control. It is natural to feel sore from the surgery, but there is no reason for you to be in severe pain.

8. When will I be able to go home?

Each facility will have a certain set of guidelines that you will need to meet before you are allowed to go home. In very basic terms, these guidelines are to insure that you can take care of your own basic needs once you leave and return home. Examples are the ability to stand, walk, go to the bathroom, eat and drink without nausea, etc. The time it takes to meet these guidelines varies for each patient but usually ranges from one hour to several hours. Rarely, it may be necessary for you to stay overnight and arrangements will be made for this should the need arise.