Surgery: not just for hospital anymore. Part I: Responding to the surgical patient in distress.

The number of surgical and diagnostic procedures performed on an outpatient basis continues to grow in the U.S. These procedures are often performed in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) or physician's office. While outpatient surgery is typically safe, a wide variety of complications can occur. When an emergency occurs in these facilities, the patient requires emergency treatment and may need to be transferred to a hospital for additional care. This article examines the types of emergencies that occur and the associated patient care requirements, including the special needs of intraoperative and postoperative patients and their interactions with healthcare providers.