With improved technology and advances in anesthesia and pain control, many less invasive surgical procedures are now being performed in outpatient settings like ambulatory surgery centers.
Common procedures that are now routinely performed on an outpatient basis include tonsillectomies, hernia repairs, gallbladder removals, some cosmetic surgeries, and cataract surgeries. Given the millions of procedures performed every year, complications from outpatient procedures are relatively uncommon.
What are the benefits of outpatient surgery?
There are many advantages of outpatient surgery over traditional, inpatient surgery. These include the following:
- Convenience. The convenience of recovering in your home generally makes recovery time easier than an in-hospital stay.
- Lower cost. Since there are no hospital room charges or related hospital charges, costs are much lower for outpatient surgery. Some insurance companies will cover certain surgical procedures only on an outpatient basis.
- Reduced stress. In most cases, outpatient surgery is less stressful than inpatient surgery. This is especially true for children who are afraid of being away from home. Most people prefer to recover in their homes rather than in the hospital.
- Scheduling is more predictable. In a hospital setting, emergency surgeries and procedures that take longer than expected can delay scheduled surgeries. An outpatient setting can generally stay within a set schedule since the procedures are less complex and more routine.
Not all patients are candidates for outpatient surgery. If you have certain procedures, you will need to be hospitalized. A patient’s medical history and the advice of the surgeon and anesthesiologist are important in determining if the procedure is best performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis. |
