From The New England Journal of Medicine In the past decade there has been explosive growth in the use of ambulatory surgery, stimulated by the development of noninvasive surgical techniques, such as endoscopy and laser surgery, and short-acting anesthetic agents with few side effects, such as propofol, and by the emphasis on cost containment. Currently, more than 50 percent of surgical procedures are performed on an ambulatory basis. This trend has resulted in the movement of surgery out of the hospital to free-standing ambulatory surgery units or medical offices, where the participation of physicians in planning, staffing, and equipment decisions and in the development of practice standards and financial accountability has become routine. Patient care in the outpatient setting differs substantially from that in the inpatient setting, with greater emphasis on ensuring practicality and efficiency, while maintaining the quality of care. Product Description Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville. Text providing practicing general surgeons and allied health professionals with a comprehensive reference to the ever-expanding practice of out-patient surgery. Includes economics, administration, anesthesia, and procedures and techniques. 63 contributors, 61 U.S. DNLM: Ambulatory Surgery.