[Ambulatory surgery interventions in childhood in a surgical clinic].

Between Jan. 1, 1980 and Dec. 31, 1990 1 688 children underwent One-Day-Surgery at the Surgical Department of the Rhenish-Westfalian Technical University. More than 85% of the operations were inguinal hernias (n = 765), phimoses (n = 324) and umbilical hernias (n = 185). The children's age ranged from 3 months up to 14 years. 27 patients (1.6%) could not be dismissed at the same day because of early complications. Two postoperative hemorrhages after circumcision led to readmissions and reoperation. More than 90% of the parents and 85% of the pediatrists were satisfied with the One-Day-Surgery. A responsible and successful One-Day-Surgery needs qualified surgeons, a well defined organizational structure and the observance of forensic problems.