Types of office-based anesthetics.

Over the past several decades, there have been evolutionary changes in both surgery and anesthesia. Newer anesthetics have excellent safety profiles and are associated with fewer hemodynamic side effects and rapid elimination from the body. Innovative surgical techniques are less invasive and cause less perioperative patient pain. These developments have fueled the growth of office-based surgery and anesthesia. All types of anesthesia, including local, monitored anesthesia care, general, and regional anesthesia, have been used safely within the private practitioner's office. Because of the remote nature of the private surgeon's office, the proper selection of both patient and procedure to be performed is of utmost importance. It is likewise imperative that the practitioner assures that the patient does not experience excessive postoperative pain and/or nausea and vomiting. It is of the utmost importance that the practicing anesthesiologist assure that every location in which procedures and surgeries are performed is a safe anesthetizing location.