[One stop surgery in pediatric surgery. Preliminary report].

The One-Stop Surgery (OSS) is a new method of Day Surgery, which combines preoperative evaluation and subsequent operation into one visit. This report describes the initial experience of the authors. Referring physicians were informed by fax about method and selected surgical procedures. Included form helped them to gain anamnestic data and to inform parents about preoperative fast. Form was then sent back by fax to the pediatric surgeon and anesthesiologist who determined the patient suitability and scheduled the day of the surgery. At hospital admission, if the diagnosis was confirmed and no anesthesiologic contraindications were discovered, the patient underwent the prescheduled surgical procedure and was discharged as a day case. Another form containing informations about home postoperative care and telephone numbers for emergency call was gave to the parents. From November 2000 through February 2001 43 patients, aged from 2 to 7 years, underwent one-stop surgical procedure: central venous catheter removal (n = 16), umbilical (n = 2) and inguinal (n = 10) hernia repair, prepuce dorsal slit (n = 15). Recovery of all patient was uneventful. None of them called during the period considered necessary for postoperative follow-up. Decreased costs and increased satisfaction of the patients and parents are the most important advantages of the OSS. Potential disadvantages are a not appropriate indication for the planned procedure and/or an anesthesiologic contraindication at hospital admission. It could involve a waste of human and financial resources and an useless psychologic stress for the family. Authors conclude it is not advisable the OSS use on a large scale without a sound experience in pediatric Day Surgery.