Day Surgery Benefits

Day care surgery is defined as scheduled surgical procedures provided to patients who do not require hospital stay overnight.

It is a process of care by which suitable patients are managed with admission, treatment and discharge on the same day.

Day care surgery include diagnostic and therapeutic procedures which require local, regional, or general anesthesia, which do not carry the risk of postoperative complications and only require a minimum period of observation in the hospital.

A day surgery may be recommended when:

• Preplanned & performed by specialist.

• Procedure that have minimal risk but do not carry significant postoperative complication that requires hospitalisation.

• Proper facilities that consist of its own procedure room/operating theater and recovery area are available.

Some common day surgery procedures are:

• Cataract surgery

• Excision of large lesion over eyelid

• Incision of middle ear / myringotomy

• Incision and drainage of large abscess

• Surgical Excision of cyst / wart

• OGDS / Colonoscopy

Yes, colonoscopy is often considered a day care procedure as it doesn’t usually require you to stay in the hospital overnight.

Yes, day surgery is sometimes referred to as day care procedure or outpatient surgery.

Advantages of day surgery include:

• They require less anesthesia than major surgeries as they are quicker.

• They are minimally invasive, which lowers the risk of complications.

• Patients have improved recovery rates and heal faster.

• Patients can recuperate at home.

• Day surgeries emphasises patient wellness with minimally invasive procedures without compromising safety.

It’s imperative that policy holders understand that day care facilities are different from a procedure room in a clinic. As such, procedures may be considered for day care benefits when performed at a clinic if:

• Local nerve block / Local anesthesia or General anesthesia is involved, and

• Lesion is significantly large causing a disability and is excised as medically necessary

The following some outpatient procedures that are not covered by day surgery insurance plans:

• Purely ear suction clearance toileting or syringing / Limited to external ear.

• Wound care – simple dressing.

• Pap smear.

• Toilet & suturing of small wounds < 2cm.

Most patients are usually able to return home one to two hours are the procedure.

Day surgery is less risky than major surgery and procedures are minimally invasive. It is associated with lower rates of hospital visits following the surgery. Addiitonally, the continous improvement in medical technology has helped ensured patient safety during outpatient surgery. Patient death during day surgery is incredibly rare.