Anesthesia for ambulatory and office-based ear, nose, and throat surgery; a comprehensive review of current practices and safety considerations

Abstract

This narrative review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current practices and safety considerations in anesthesia for ambulatory and office-based ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery. It explores patient selection criteria, anesthetic techniques including total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and regional anesthesia, airway management strategies, and preventive approaches to common complications such as postoperative nausea and emergence delirium. The review of evidence indicated that anesthesia for ambulatory and office-based ear, nose, and throat surgery has advanced significantly, offering safe and effective perioperative management when guided by evidence-based practices. Careful patient selection, tailored anesthetic techniques including total intravenous anesthesia and regional blocks, and vigilant airway management are essential to optimizing outcomes and minimizing complications. Integration of enhanced recovery protocols and proactive strategies against common adverse events such as postoperative nausea and emergence delirium further enhances patient safety and satisfaction. Ongoing research and technological innovations promise to refine these approaches, emphasizing the anesthesiologist’s critical role in this evolving outpatient surgical landscape.

Keywords: Anesthesia, Airway management, Ambulatory surgery, Outpatient surgery, Office-based surgery, ENT surgery, Otolaryngology, ENT anesthesia