[Day surgery and anesthesia].

Ambulatory surgery comprised up to 70% of scheduled surgery in the USA during the past decades. The main reason for the increase was economic. In Japan, day surgery has been performed in the pediatric field, such as for inguinal hernia. However, recently day surgery has been performed in adult patients, because of medical economics as well as to improve the quality of life of patients. Patient safety is the most important issue in the increasing number of day surgeries in Japan. Postoperative care occurs at home. To reduce postoperative complications, skilled surgery, prompt recovery from anesthesia, and postoperative care using sophisticated systems, manpower, and equipment are necessary. To ensure patient safety, the Japan Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia announced a set of "safety standards for ambulatory anesthesia" in 1999 and we continue to work to developing protocols that maximize the safety of and benefits to patients.