1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Surgery

Outpatient Surgery

By Jennifer Heisler, RN, About.com

Updated: January 03, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition: An outpatient surgery is a procedure where the patient reports for surgery early in the morning and is expected to return home that day for recovery. Outpatient surgeries are typically minor surgeries that have a low risk of complications.

More Related Information:

Before Your Surgery

Common Questions About Surgery

Also Known As: same day surgery,
Examples: The procedure was an outpatient surgery, so the patient arranged for a friend to drive her home from the hospital that afternoon.
Explore Surgery
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Surgery
  4. Glossary
  5. Outpatient Surgery Defined-What is outpatient surgery

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.