[Current aspects of ambulatory anesthesia for otorhinolaryngologic and stomatologic surgery in France].

Ambulatory anaesthesia is becoming more popular in France for several reasons: -for humanitory reasons and greater comfort, -for reasons of economy in hospital, -professional responsibility and insurance. This change has been made possible by: -techniques of anaesthesia using drugs which are eliminated rapidly without any rebound phenomenon, -medical attitudes, such as prior examination of the patient by an anesthetist; this is much better than a rapid examination at night or in the morning on admission of the patient, thus precise control of awakening by tests of psychomotor activity. -changes in hospital structure, e.g. post-anaesthetic awakening wards with specialised personnel. Anonymous questionnaires were sent out to O.R.L. surgeons and French oral surgeons, we received 38.5% replies: -51.75% never used ambulatory anaesthesia, -48.25% used ambulatory anaesthesia almost always in hospital with a recovery room and anaesthetic consultation. Admission to hospital for one day seems rarer. It thus appears that ambulatory anaesthesia is becoming common in France and that more than 50% of surgeons remain opposed to this technique.