title: Out-patient hand surgery. A prospective study of 588 patients.
abstract: The results of a prospective study of 588 patients operated on over a period of 4 months were analyzed. Of these patients, 6% only had to be hospitalized. The 555 other patients underwent out-patient surgery, 25% of which were emergencies. Thirty-four % of patients had one or more preexisting serious medical conditions. Ninety-one % underwent regional anesthesia. Complications were rare and did not seem to be preventable by hospitalization. While highlighting the many advantages associated with out-patient surgery, the authors stress the guidelines which must be followed as well as the pitfalls to be avoided in ambulatory surgery of the hand.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies