We live in a global village, learning and experiencing newer concepts and ideas, aimed at improving our life style. The pace of which, all over the world, is evidently on a bullish increase. I do not see any option but to keep up.

Day Surgery Journal of India, as we are now titled, has tried to highlight the work done from around us.

In this issue, we have an article from Dr. Lindsay Roberts, from the Land Down Under, who has the distinction of shaping the Australian Day surgery, by setting up policies and guidelines. His article is interesting to read. I am always interested in history of how we came to and where we are.

Dr. Dhayagude’s article speaks of years of experience and various possibilities in Ambulatory surgery, especially in the children, who have dislike for doctors and hospitals. I have always held that anaesthesia is the most important branch of Day Care surgery. The success or failure of any Day-case surgery is dependent much more on an efficient anaesthesiologist than a surgeon!

Dr. Dick De Jong writes from his perspective of being recently the President of an International organisation solely dedicated to Ambulatory surgery. The technological advancements that he writes in his article are something to speculate about. It is indeed not possible to think of any country not wanting or advancing towards Ambulatory surgery. We should soon hope to be able to boast of a well organized and widely accepted Day Surgery concept in our country.

Ophthalmology is almost 100% Day surgery. Dr. Natarajan and his team of doctors have done remarkable work in their specialty, indicating once again; advancements that have taken place in Eye care. Rarely do you see any patient undergoing eye surgery requiring hospitalization; this is now so well accepted that it would raise a cause of concern and surprise from the patient or their relatives, if they were asked to be hospitalized. Therefore, if Ophthalmology, which involves the most important sensory organ of your body, has advanced to Day surgery, without protests from anyone, then I do hope that the simpler surgical afflictions from other surgical specialties can be performed as Day Care too.

Dr. Yuen and his team from Hong Kong have produced an amazing and sustainable protocol of Day case selection for successful Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, in a country which is so close to us. A lot of encouragement and strength needs to be derived from this work.

The one common factor seen in the international articles published earlier and now, is the fact that they are growing in tandem with the healthcare policy makers of their respective countries. It is heartening to see that the concept of Day Surgery is considered important to the citizens of their country and contributes to the economics of time and money.

Will we also have the privilege of being heard and taken seriously? I do not know. How do we go about making such changes in our healthcare system without the government support, I do not know. But, as individuals, a change in the small area of your practice will go a long way, for we have decided to take the step towards the change. And succeed we will.

We thank our sponsors for supporting us in this endeavour, the contributors and the readers need to be duly acknowledged and thanked. My special thanks to the advisory committee and Dr. Seema Row, my wife, for helping me in editing this issue and much more!

I request our readers to contribute their experiences and ideas by writing articles, essays, and letters to the Editor. Constructive criticism is welcome too. Remember, this is a team effort, every contribution, however big or small, is of significant importance. It helps in increasing the awareness of this ‘small revolution’ called: Day Care Surgery.

Naresh T. Row

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