Of anesthesia standards in ambulatory surgery: questions and controversies, certainties and prospects.

Ambulatory surgery is a common orgaanizational model for the delivery of health care services. This specialist area is growing, as are the :1I1esthesia services connnected with it. Although no precise figures are available, it is estimated that millions of !)atients are surgically treated on an outtpatient basis in institutional settings and office-based procedures. In view of the ecoonomic role they play, these services may be considered a driving force in the nationnal health care system. An additional connsideration is the growing awareness in the community and among the majority of health care service users that the model is highly useful. Its strong points arc the resources it can mobilize, which need to he developed along the lines of the principles and quality levels characteristic of advanced health care syssterns. Ambulatory surgety requires strong suppport if it is to become part of the impleement;Hion of health care planning in all of its political, social and ethical ramificaations.