Did you know that the number of outpatient procedures is said to have tripled in the past 30 years?

With various types of outpatient procedures, these types of procedures are occurring almost as frequently as in-hospital surgeries. Outpatient surgery allows the patient to go home on the same day, reducing costs for the patient and allowing doctor’s time to be more efficiently utilized. Outpatient procedures are on the increase because they are less invasive, have less infection rate, have faster recovery times for the patient and are overall safer. Outpatient procedures are carried out on healthy patients and while it is commonly used for minor surgical procedures, in recent times varying types of outpatient procedures, and more complex surgeries are being carried out successfully in outpatients.

Here are some of the most common types of outpatient procedures:

• Arthroscopic shoulder surgery – nearly all arthroscopic shoulder surgery is done through outpatient surgery by a shoulder specialist. The rotator cuff is the name given to the group of muscles and tendons that keep your shoulder in place. Being a common area for injury, if injured, outpatient surgery can be carried out by non-invasive rotator cuff arthroscopic surgery where a thin camera is inserted into an incision made on the shoulder. The camera, which is connected to a monitor, transmits images that the surgeon uses to help him diagnose the problem and then, using small surgical instruments, performs the surgery. This is a safe and non-invasive surgery that can be performed with an excellent outcome for the patient. Following surgery, the patient is usually allowed to go home in 1-2 hours.
• Cataract surgery – a cataract can be described as clouding on the eye’s natural lens causing a decrease in vision because light entering the eye becomes distorted. If the cataract is interfering with your day-to-day life then it is time to intervene. The lens of your eye is removed and an artificial lens replaces it. Cataract surgery can safely be performed in an outpatient clinic using microsurgical techniques which are not invasive and the results are less complications and a speedy recovery.
• Tonsillectomy – the tonsils are glands in the throat that help fight infection. Sometimes, however, instead of fighting infection, they become enlarged, infected and may need to be removed. Tonsillectomy is the name of the procedure that removes the tonsils, a procedure characteristically carried out on pediatric patients, and, however less often, on adults too. The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia through outpatient clinics. In most cases the patient can go home on the same day as surgery.
• Dental Surgery – dental procedures such as dental implants are successfully carried out in outpatient clinics. When a tooth is so badly damaged that it needs to be completely removed, a dental implant, which is a small titanium screw, is surgically inserted and stabilized in the gum and acts as a root. The new tooth is built around the implant. It is a non-invasive, safe procedure and one of the many types of outpatient surgery that your dentist can perform. The patient can go home 1-2 hours after the procedure.

As you can see, there are many types of outpatient procedures. Generally speaking, outpatient procedures allow patients the ability to leave shortly after the procedure, to go rest and recover in the comfort of their home.

If you need outpatient shoulder surgery or think you might, give us a call today!