Contribution of the outpatient surgery unit ITO the general surgery department of a district hospital.

Introduction: The creation of Outpatient Surgery (OPS) units to combine the quality of medical attention and rationalize costs allows for greater efficiency in the use of resources. Aim: To report our series of patients undergoing surgery at the OPS units integrated into our Hospital (Type II): Patients and method: Between May 1994 and March 1998, 832 outpatients, of a total of 5230, underwent surgery at our General Surgery Unit. The criteria for exclusion from the programme depended on the patient and the enviroment or resulted from the operation itself. Results: Mean patient age was 47.5 years; there were 420 males and 412 females. Surgery was performed for 229 inguinofemoral hernias, 47 umbilical-epigastric hernias, nine incisional hernias, 193 pilonidal sinuses, 156 mammary nodules, 65 varicose veins, 64 arteriovenous fistulae and 69 proctology operations. The most common anesthesia techniques performed were rachianesthesia and local anesthesia. Eight point seven percent of the patients required admission (OPS failure), the most frequent causes being excessive pain, orthostatic-syncopal hypotension, nausea and vomiting and urine retention. There was no morbidity or mortality. Conclusion: OPS is a highly efficient procedure for resolving the most common pathologies in General Surgery. The anesthesia technique was an important factor in the rate of failure.