Significant increase in outpatient surgery

Number of outpatient surgery in things has increased significantly

07/15/2013

In the last ten years, the number of outpatient operations in the hospitals in Saxony has quadrupled, reports the Association of Ersatzkassen (vdek) in a recent press release. In 2011, around 101,000 patients had already returned home the night after an operation, compared to just 24,000 in 2002. How the number of total interventions in the same period has developed or what share the outpatient interventions in the total interventions, however, does not emerge from the notification of the Ersatzkassenverbandes.

According to the vdek, Saxony's overall outpatient operations are well above the national average. However, this is by no means the result of disadvantages or weaknesses in the Saxon hospital sector, but rather an expression of the state-of-the-art intervention options. „Through the so-called keyhole surgery can now be dispensed with in many interventions on large cuts in the body“, reports the vdek. The surgeons use very small instruments, which are inserted through a small opening (hence keyhole). In this way, for example, a hernia can be closed or the cartilage on the knee joint smoothed, reports the Ersatzkassenverband.

Silke Heinke, the head of Saxony's vdek representative, explained that „Thanks to refined surgical techniques and modern anesthetic procedures, patients no longer need to stay in the hospital to be monitored.“ This explains the significant increase in outpatient procedures. Also would be „many patients in the familiar home environment faster than in the clinic“ recover. However, before deciding on outpatient treatment, patients should seek thorough advice, Heinke warned. A warning, which should urgently be considered, because without support, the daily routine, even after a small-scale outpatient surgery often often difficult to accomplish. (Fp)