Patient selection for day surgery

Day surgery has been expanding since the year 2000 when the NHS set a target to perform 75% of surgeries as day procedures. Initially only elective cases were eligible, but nowadays there is a pathway for emergency surgeries as well. There are many advantages for ambulatory surgery, but for a good outcome and a low risk of complications, it is important to have a clear selection criteria, follow enhanced recovery protocols and to optimize the patient's medical conditions preoperatively.