Clinical Ambulatory Anesthesia

Book excerpt: Ambulatory care can be a challenging setting in which to provide anesthesia – not all patients are suitable for rapid discharge post-operatively and opinions differ as to which types of surgery should be performed as day cases. This comprehensive guide delivers up-to-date, evidence-based advice on how to provide optimal anesthesia care for ambulatory surgery. Written by a leading clinical anesthesiologist, it provides clear guidance about how to handle particular patients in particular situations. The evidence and scientific knowledge for each issue are presented with reference to major studies and review papers, followed by practical advice based on the author's continuous clinical and scientific experience over 30 years. Topics include planning, equipping and staffing ambulatory units, pharmacology, basic concepts of ambulatory care, pre- and post-operative issues and current controversies. Clinical Ambulatory Anesthesia is essential reading for the clinical, postgraduate anesthesiologist as well as nurse anesthetists involved with ambulatory care.