Management of some common surgical conditions in children: a comparison of practice between surgical units in Edinburgh.

Many common surgical conditions in children are managed as day cases by the Paediatric Surgical Service in Lothian but this practice varies within the separate units in Lothian. Five common conditions suitable for day case treatment were looked at during 1987. There was a considerable difference in the time that some conditions were kept in hospital, an orchidopexy, for example, staying for up to 7 days in one unit. The reasons for this difference, the cost implications and the need for future planning of day case surgery is discussed.