Anesthesia for Outpatient Surgery

Abstract Outpatient surgery is the most common setting to perform surgical procedures in the United States. It started as a way to overcome limited resources and financial constraints. As outpatient surgery has expanded and become more frequently used, ambulatory anesthesia has become a recognized subspecialty through the guidelines that were developed by the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA). Important considerations must be taken into account when selecting the appropriate surgical procedures and the patient population that will undergo surgery on an outpatient basis. The anesthesiology provider is pivotal to ensure a safe and efficient perioperative outcome. This is achieved through appropriate communication, planning, preoperative assessment, intraoperative surgical and anesthetic management, and postoperative recovery and readiness for a safe discharge home.