Abstract: Patient outcomes following ambulatory anesthesia.

Authors:

Deutsch N, Wu CL.

Institution:

Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie 280, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.

Source:

Anesthesiol Clin North America. 2003 Jun;21(2):403-15.

Abstract:

As the number and type of surgeries performed in the ambulatory setting have increased, outcomes research has allowed for better analysis of the safety and efficacy of care given to patients. Though this once involved measures of clinical morbidity and mortality alone, researchers have begun to focus their attention beyond these end points and take into account patients' postoperative functional status and satisfaction as a way to assess the overall quality of patient care. Also key in this move to a more global assessment of health care interventions has been an increased focus on economic outcomes. As new anesthetic drugs and techniques continue to develop, outcomes research will continue to evolve in new directions, providing further information for improvements in patient care.

Keywords:

Anaesthesia Complications