Day surgery for children

Day surgery is particularly well suited to the paediatric population, and an increasing number of procedures spanning different surgical specialities are now being carried out in the ambulatory setting. A significant advantage to the family and the child is the minimal disruption to their routine and lives, reducing the potential impact an overnight stay may incur.This article summarizes the essential components needed to provide a high-quality paediatric day surgery service. It also highlights the importance of good preoperative assessment, which involves having rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria, but also comprising some degree of flexibility allowing evaluation of children on an individual basis. Strategies to minimize postoperative pain and nausea and vomiting are also discussed, with emphasis being placed on the safe discharge of these children home.