How does an outpatient operation usually proceed?

Today, many surgical procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis.
Before the operation, the patients are carefully examined, informed and prepared by the doctor in the surgical field and the anaesthetist.
The anaesthetist's preliminary examination and information and the final consent to the planned anaesthesia take place either a few days before the procedure or even on the day of treatment, depending on the structure and organisation of the facility.
The usual daily routine for outpatient procedures:

On the day of the intervention, the patient comes to the day ward or to the department of the corresponding clinic in the morning, fasting. The patient must already remember that he or she is not allowed to drive a vehicle for 24 hours after the operation, as the ability to perceive and the ability to react are severely limited after an anaesthetic.
Once in the day ward or department, the administrative matters are clarified. The patient is asked to put on a hospital gown and take a seat on a couch. After a short waiting time, he is taken to the operating wing on the couch or in a hospital bed. There, the agreed procedure is performed using the agreed anaesthetic technique. Postoperatively, depending on the anaesthesia technique, the patient is taken via the recovery room or directly to the day ward or department.

Essentially, the anaesthetic technique does not change for an outpatient procedure compared to an inpatient procedure. To ensure that the patient gets home safely, shorter-acting drugs tend to be used. The doctor in charge decides together with the surgical colleague after the procedure when it is possible to discharge the patient from the hospital. However, he reserves the right to order an inpatient admission, e.g. in case of prolonged problems after the procedure (severe vomiting, pain that is difficult to stop, postoperative bleeding, etc.).

After the procedure, patients should only leave the clinic in the presence of an accompanying person. The procedure and the after-effects of medicines and anaesthetics can severely reduce the ability to react.
The following rules for 24 hours after a procedure are for safety and are usually formulated as follows:

• Do not take part in road traffic without a companion. Do not drive a vehicle in traffic under any circumstances (bicycle, moped, car, etc.).
• Do not work with dangerous machines.
• Take only the prescribed painkillers, sleeping pills and sedatives. Do not drink alcohol for the first 24 hours after an anaesthetic, as alcohol increases the residual effect of anaesthetic drugs and painkillers.
• Do not exercise and avoid physical and mental stress.
• Do not make any important decisions during this time (e.g. conclude contracts).
• Care at home must be ensured for the first 24 hours by an adult person, and a telephone must also be available.

Before discharge, patients are informed about the procedure performed and possible complications and are given a telephone number in case a doctor needs to be contacted in an emergency. If insatiable vomiting, fever, severe pain, bleeding, etc. occur after leaving the hospital, the general practitioner or a doctor in charge of the institution where the operation was performed must be contacted immediately.

Patients who have undergone outpatient surgery can subsequently book a supervised stay at the "Kurhaus am Sarner See". www.kurhaus.info