The Role of the Pharmacist in Ambulatory Surgery

The American Hospital Association predicts that by 1995 more than 60% of patients requiring surgery will be treated in an outpatient (ambulatory) setting. 1 Compared with 10 years ago, the types of surgical procedures performed on an outpatient basis have greatly expanded. This can be attributed to a change in the guidelines used for determining patients suitable for outpatient surgery, which has mainly occurred secondary to changes in technology and the introduction of new shorter-acting anesthetic agents onto the market. This article will describe the role of the pharmacist in ambulatory surgery as well as discuss the types of surgery performed on an outpatient basis; how the medications administered preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively differ from the inpatient setting, and the criteria used to assess the preoperative patient.