title: [Development of ambulatory surgery. An irreversible perspective].
abstract: Whatever the social security system, the burden of health care costs is rising at an intolerable rate. It is however unacceptable to complain about a lack of resoures as long as the resources which are available are not used responsibly. Thanks to new technologies and drugs, ambulatory surgery, with its own adapted structures, can help to ensure responsible use of resources and satisfy patients, surgeons and allied health workers. Ambulatory surgery is currently expanding, especially in the U.S. (1990), where over 17 million operations are performed in an ambulatory mode, i.e. over 50% of all surgery. Hospitalization is avoided or shortened to a few hours whenever possible. Many uncomplicated surgical procedures, which are traditionally performed on an impatient basis under general anesthesia, are just as effectively and safely performed without admission to hospital.
authors.affiliation: Brussels One Day Clinic, Nouvelle Clinique de la Basilique.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Lathouwer
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D017046:Cost Savings; D005062:European Union; D006801:Humans
vernacular_title: Le développement de la chirurgie ambulatoire. Une perspective incontournable.