Out patient surgery is now the norm for minor procedures that once took a least a week or less of hospital care. This is a good thing when a person is young and able within hours to care for themselves, or when a family member can take over care for twenty four hours. However, seniors may not rebound as fast and may need at least an overnight stay in the hospital.
Living alone, they may have no one they can depend on to pick up them up after surgery and care for them. Some hospitals are now addressing this concern and are allowing for overnight stay for the most vulnerable of senior citizens. Each case, of course is decided individually, but the problem of irresponsibility does reamain.
Why is this method preferable over the speedier method of cut, suture and discard? Obviously, not every situation that requires surgery is equal, and even the least invasive can sap the strength of frail oldsters. Some will not admit this, and will try to do for themselves to prove they are capable, therefore it is up to their physicians and nurses making the arrangements for the surgery to suggest this added bit of after care.
Mentally, due to health declines and a lessening of coping mechanisms, some oldsters are often unaware of their frailties, and when they are, they may be protective of their children and will try to do more than they are actually able to do. This is another reason for an overnight stay to give them an added boost before they are turned loose to fend for themselves.
Depending on the procedure, a night’s stay before the exam, might work better than a night afterward. As an example, colonoscopies are routine colon exams for cancer. The preparatory cleansing procedures are exhausting for any age, and the elderly may need help with this. Afterwards, they could be released to a family member or an aid.
Minor surgeries such as cataract surgeries, wound debridement, and others might be the exception. They could go home if someone is there to care for them temporarily, but the line must be drawn when more invasive, but minor, procedures are performed in an outpatient surgery facility. No to speedy discharges to, hemorrhoidectomy, appendectomy, sinus surgery patients and others.