More than half of all surgeries in the U.S. today are performed on an outpatient basis.1 As the horizons of ambulatory surgery continue to broaden, anesthesiologists are exploring new approaches to care for a sicker population undergoing progressively complex procedures, while at the same time minimizing side effects and complications and maintaining efficiency.
Similar to the historical advancements of general anesthesia that paved the way for the evolution of modern surgery, regional anesthesia is advancing ambulatory surgery. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are capitalizing on the benefits of nerve blocks to decrease opioid use and minimize inpatient lengths of stay, and ambulatory anesthesiologists are eager to apply these concepts. The benefits of regional anesthesia – superior analgesia with lower opioid requirements, less nausea and vomiting (PONV), shorter recovery room stays and improved patient satisfaction scores – are consistent with overall goals of outpatient surgery.
While many regionalists are...
