Paediatric day case anaesthesia: estimate of its quality at home

The aim of this clinical audit was to evaluate the home recovery and complications of 104 daycase anaesthetized children, as well as parent satisfaction. A questionnaire, explained at the time of preoperative visit, was given to parents at hospital discharge and returned by mail. Opioids were administered in 19% of the children whereas regional anaesthesia was performed in 28% of cases. In the recovery room, 8% of them suffered pain. At home, pain was the main problem (25%) and vomiting and agitation were found in 9% and 6% of the cases respectively. Parents reported anxiety in 45% of cases, and 14% called their general practitioner. Nevertheless, 94% were satisfied with the anaesthetic. A clinical audit is useful in detecting management deficiencies. Quality of home recovery may be improved by: wider use of perioperative analgesia, systematic prescription of take-home analgesia, designation of a hospital practitioner for advice, and closer collaboration with general practitioners.