Outpatient surgery
In the taxi home is already halfway. And on the sofa with chicken soup and a good book, the surgery in general anesthesia of the morning is almost forgotten. Slight pain and a bit of dizziness are still there. It's not worse than a bad cold. And the next morning you sit at the desk again, check e-mails, look through the post, do a few phone calls. Relieved that this is possible so quickly.
Even an outpatient surgery is a big burden on the body
Many patients underestimate the physical stress. And overwhelm yourself.
So we wish that. But the supposedly speedy recovery often comes to a standstill again. "Many people on an outpatient basis feel tired again days after the operation, complain of circulatory problems or nausea." Jörg Huhnholz, resident accident and hand surgeon from Hamburg. The doctors then like to talk about the after effects of the anesthetic, but that has little to do with the setback. Rather with the intervention itself. Because the is still a considerable burden for the whole body despite the usual gentle methods today. Many underestimate that and overwhelm themselves.
"Especially self-employed people often work immediately," says Dr. Jörg Rüggeberg, Surgeon with practice in Bremen. He too went back to work a few days after an outpatient operation. "That was a bit too fast," admits the physician.
Like the doctor, many of his patients are concerned. You have misconceptions about the "operation to go". Even 20 years ago, mainly warts were removed on an outpatient basis and sores were sewn. But today numerous interventions without hospital stay are possible. These include real mini-OPs, such as the removal of screws after bone fractures, of which you will hardly notice a few days later. But many surgical procedures, which were previously associated with a week's stay in the hospital, are easier and gentler possible by the endoscopic procedures, such as minor gynecological operations such as the removal of a cyst on the ovary or knee replacements. These interventions are the most likely to be underestimated because they may take only half an hour and are now standard on outpatient operators. Since it seems almost exaggerated that even after a week sick leave is common.
Car repair, laundry, hungry children - taking care of yourself is hard at home.
In recent years, outpatient surgery has even gone one step further: Today, entire shoulder joints are exchanged on an outpatient basis, and since 2007, the uterus has also been removed on an outpatient basis at a gynecological day clinic in Hamburg.
Such multi-hourly operations are always associated with incapacity to work - even if they are performed in a clinic rather than a hospital. Ambulatory in this case means only that you can get well at home instead of in the clinic. Many appreciate that. According to a survey conducted by the Federal Association for Outpatient Surgery (BAO), nearly 20,000 of the patients surveyed would opt for surgery without hospitalization again.
The benefits from a medical point of view: Infections are much less common at home than at the hospital. "In addition, the risk of thrombosis decreases in outpatient surgery," explains Dr. Claus Peter Möller from the BAO. Because patients go to the car directly from the recovery room on foot, they also take a glass of water or the phone themselves at home. Because you can not ring for the sister there. "Nevertheless, someone must be there for the first 24 hours after the procedure," says Surgeon Rüggeberg. Friends, relatives. Or someone from the outpatient nursing service. But even then, not everything is over: the wound healing lasts ten days, and during this time you should take care of your body.
Outpatient surgery: Maybe stay a few days in the hospital?
This is often difficult in one's own home. The garage calls, the laundry is piled up, the children are leaving school. Hardly a woman can manage to take the recovery time she needs. So: In medium-sized outpatient procedures with a sick leave of one week and even more in the very large new types of outpatient surgery should all those who can hardly raise their feet undisturbed, well consider whether they still do not stay in the hospital. The alternative is: plan thoroughly. Take responsibility, which one gave earlier at the hospital door. Reshaping the apartment to a private hospital room and dividing friends, relatives and partner as caregivers for the first two days. The soup is boiling, the washing machine is filling or just stopping by. If this is settled, it can be well in your own bed well.
Hospital stay or outpatient surgery?
Until now, one has the choice between practice and clinic for larger interventions.The health insurances are obliged to advise their members, but usually recommend outpatient surgery because they are cheaper. Therefore, it is advisable to inform yourself before an upcoming surgery elsewhere.
Outpatient surgery: Which surgeon is the better?
Many ambulatory operators are better off than their hospital colleagues because they specialize in performing a certain procedure every day, sometimes for years. As a general rule: choose the surgeon who is the specialist in the field and has the most routine. And: For small operations (about three to five days sick leave) is recommended in most cases, the outpatient procedure, because the risk of infection is much lower than in the hospital.
What is a good practice to recognize?
For example, that at least 24 hours before the procedure, a detailed discussion is held. In it, the doctor should inform about risks as well as the preparation and follow-up and give the patient a telephone number for questions or emergencies.
Outpatient surgery: when is it better to go to the hospital?
Anyone who has had a heart attack or a stroke, should better go to hospital, the same applies to disorders of blood clotting. Diabetics stay better at home and should therefore have surgery on an outpatient basis.
Which outpatient procedures are controversial?
Especially the outpatient almond operation. The reason: There is a risk of rebleeding. This complication is very rare but dangerous. If not treated immediately, the patient may bleed to death.
At home or in the hospital: where to recover faster?
Studies show that the ability to work after outpatient surgery is restored somewhat faster. But you should not go back to work until the time limit for the sick leave has expired or a doctor has issued a "Gesundschreibung". You can also work "at your own risk" beforehand. But that means that if an accident happens at work, it may be that the employer does not pay. And: If complications occur later or if the healing is delayed, you have worse chances of getting right in case of a dispute.
Fast and uncomplicated - these outpatient interventions have long been routine
Ophthalmology: z. B. cataract, cataract, surgery of far-sightedness and myopia Gynecology: z. B. endometriosis surgery, sterilization, removal of cysts Heart Surgery: z. B. implantation of cardiac pacemakers ENT: z. Sinus surgery, surgery to improve hearing Orthopedics: z. Articulations, meniscus surgery, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome Surgery: z. Inguinal hernia, gallbladder removal, varicose vein surgery
