Figure 2. Statistical distribution of time to discharge. Histogram (left) shows statistical distribution of base 10 logarithm of time to discharge among 178 ambulatory patients who had general anesthesia. The best-fit normal distribution curve has been drawn (left). Effect of changing time to discharge was simulated (right) using properties of the observed (left) log-normal distribution of times to discharge. Maximum time to discharge = time needed for 95% of patients to leave the PACU. The line (right) was drawn directly from the observed (left) statistical distribution.