[Postoperative complications and unanticipated admission in ambulatory surgery].
BACKGROUND
Day-case surgery is becoming more popular in Japan. The incidence of postoperative complications and unanticipated hospital admission was evaluated between June 1, 1998 and May 31, 2001.


METHODS
Two hundred fifty seven cases of ambulatory surgery were retrospectively evaluated in terms of methods of anesthesia, anesthesia time, recovery time, postoperative complications and unanticipated hospital admission.


RESULTS
General anesthesia was used in 44% of 257 ambulatory surgical cases. Mean anesthesia time was 81 minutes and mean recovery time was 227 minutes. The most frequent complication was postoperative pain, incidence of which was 53%. The incidence of unanticipated hospital admission was 7.8%. Among this admission, anesthesia-related reasons were cited in 44%.


CONCLUSIONS
Effective pain management and well-chosen anesthetic technique are important for the success of ambulatory surgery.
Tanaka
Satoru
S
Department of Anesthesia, Sapporo Higashi Tokushukai Hospital, Sapporo 065-0033.
Namiki
Akiyoshi
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors