Abstract
We surveyed the present status of ambulatory anesthesia and the opinions for introducing this system to Japan by distributing questionnaires to the hospitals ap-proved by Japan Society of Anesthesiology(JSA). Of 474 hospitals, we received 329 answers(69.4%). The number of the hospitals that experienced at least once of am-bulatory anesthesia were 97(29.5%), but the number of the hospitals performing am-bulatory anesthesia regularly were only 20(6.1%). In children's hospitals, the prevalence rate was 9/11(81.8%, p<0.05 compared with other hospitals).
81(24.8%) of the anesthesiologists strongly suggested the necessity of ambulatory anesthesia. 184(56.4%) realized the necessity. 27(8.2%) were not in favour of this system.
Both contributing and limiting factors were clarified from the questionnaires. Now, in Japan, there are many different situations compared with United States and European countries. The shortage of qualified anesthesiologists and the related co-medical staffs, and an advanced medical insurance system might be the main factor to explain the low prevalence of ambulatory anesthesia system in Japan.
