Abstract

The availability of potent anaesthetic drugs with greater specifity, shorter duration of action and fewer side effects has provided a rapid improvement for outpatient surgery. The search for improved intravenous anaesthesia with propofol or eltanolone generally results in more rapid recovery and can permif earlier discharge. General anaesthesia with inhalational anaesthetic drugs such as sevoflurane and desflurane contribute to faster onset and offset of effect. Muscle relaxants of short duration are most appropriate for outpatient anaesthesia. A recently introduced non-depolarizing muscle relaxant rocuronium and mivacurium can provide acceptible intubating conditions in a time comparable to suxamethonium. The comfort of surgical procedures performed under local anaesthesia can be improved by administering low doses of sedative - hypnotic drugs. Midazolam seems the most appropriate one. Recent pharmaceutical developments in the field of day-case anaesthesia has provided real advent-ages to anaesthesiologist and at the same time to the surgeons such as earlier awaking, fewer side effects, satisfactory surgical comforts.