Paediatric outpatient anaesthesia

More and more surgical and diagnostic procedures in children are performed on an outpatient basis. Anaesthetic care must take various conditions into account to ensure highest possible safety and comfort. An appropriate selection of patients, procedures and anaesthetic techniques minimises the risk of complication. A careful preparation of the child and the family reduces anxiety and uncertainty. Both issues show the importance of medical and particularly organisational concerns of outpatient care. On the day of surgery, modern anaesthetic regimes are combined with an effective PONV prophylaxis and a differentiated pain therapy. The discharge procedure and domestic follow-up care should be organised by using a clearly stated protocol that includes continuation of pain management and regular wound checks, in collaboration with the surgeons and primary care practitioners.