Outpatient general and spinal anesthesia.

By the year 1990, it is projected that 50 per cent of all surgery in the United States will be performed on an outpatient basis. Both surgeons and anesthesiologists must understand patient and procedure prerequisites for outpatient surgery. The surgeon, prior to scheduling the operation, must evaluate the patient as to acceptability and provide that patient with complete information about the proposed outpatient experience. Anesthesia techniques (premedication, intravenous, inhalational, regional) must be modified and adapted to accomplish early patient ambulation and discharge to home on the same day as surgery. Patients must meet established clinical criteria prior to discharge and must be examined by a physician at the time these criteria have been met. The physician's clinical judgment is the single most important factor in determining the patient's home readiness.