Abstract
Purpose
A study was undertaken to identify the characteristics and outcomes of ambulatory surgical patients without an escort.
Clinical features
During a 38-month period, the incidence of patients without an escort at one tertiary care institution was 0.2% (60/28,391). Five patients had their surgery cancelled. The other 55 patients had their surgery performed. Tw o groups of patients without an escort were identified: patients who were known not to have an escort preoperatively, and patients with “no show” escort. The number of patients with no show escort is much higher than the number of patients who were known not to have an escort preoperatively. The outcome of the no escort patients was compared with the matched control group of patients with an escort. There were no differences in the rates of unanticipated admission, emergency visits or readmission into the hospital within 30 days comparing the group of patients with and without an escort.
Conclusions
The absence of an escort in ambulatory surgical patients occurs in 0.2% of surgeries, and varies according to the type of service. The number of patients with no show escort is higher than the number of patients with known no escort preoperatively.
Résumé
Objectif
Déterminer les caractéristiques et les suites de la chirurgie ambulatoire chez des patients sans accompagnateur.
Éléments cliniques
Pendant une période de 38 mois, ľincidence de patients non accompagnés qui se sont présentés à une institution de soins tertiaires a été de 0.2 % (60/28.391). Ľopération chirurgicale a été annulée pour cinq patients. Les 55 autres patients ont été opérés. Deux groupes de patients non accompa-gnés ont été recensés : ceux dont on savait avant ľopération qu’ils seraient seuls et ceux dont ľaccompagnateur ne s’est pas présenté. Ces derniers étaient plus nombreux que les premiers. Ľévolution des patients sans accompagnateur a été comparée avec le groupe de patients témoins appariés qui étaient accompagnés. Il n'’y a pas eu de différence quant au taux ďadmission hospitalière imprévue, aux visites à ľurgence ou à la réadmission à ľhôpital dans les 30 jours, entre les patients accompagnés ou non.
Conclusion
Ľabsence ďaccompagnateur pour les patients de chirurgie ambulatoire survient dans 0.2 % des cas et varie selon le type de service. Le nombre de patients non accompagnés est plus élevé que celui des patients qui savent avant ľopération qu’ils se présenteront seuls.
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Chung, F., Imasogie, N., Ho, J. et al. Frequency and implications of ambulatory surgery without a patient escort. Can J Anesth 52, 1022–1026 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03021599
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03021599