Ambulatory surgery, also known as outpatient surgery or same day surgery, allows you to go home on the same day that you have a surgical procedure.
With improved technology and advances in anaesthesia and pain control, many less invasive surgical procedures are now being performed on an outpatient, or ambulatory, basis.
For patients, the advantages of ambulatory surgery include:
- Convenience:
The convenience of recovering in your home generally makes recovery time quicker and easier than an in-hospital stay. - Lower cost:
Since there are no hospital room charges, and related hospital charges, costs are much lower for outpatient surgery. Some insurance companies will cover certain surgical procedures only on an outpatient basis, unless your physician certifies that you require a more intensive level of post-operative care due to an underlying medical condition. - Reduced stress:
In the majority of cases, outpatient surgery is less stressful than inpatient surgery. This is especially true for children who are afraid of being away from home. Most persons, moreover, 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 more simple and more routine.