Ambulatory Anesthesia

Ambulatory anesthesia is one of the more common adjunctive procedures performed by an oral maxillofacial surgeon in private or academic practice. The best and most effective management of anesthetic complications is prevention of their occurrence. A brief neurological examination may distinguish true cerebrovascular complications from confusion or disorientation that may result from anesthetic drugs. Postoperative nausea and vomiting is frequently cited as the most common complication of anesthesia, and it is one that patients frequently complain about. Complications of ambulatory anesthesia in pediatric populations are similar in many ways to those that may be encountered in adults. Preoperative screening of the pediatric patient will be simpler as most will have an uncomplicated medical history. Laboratory testing is rarely indicated in these patients. Of special interest is a medical history of asthma or recent upper respiratory infection, as both these conditions may predispose toward respiratory complications during anesthesia.