Wir überwinden Grenzen

The joint Center for Outpatient Surgery of the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg celebrates its 25th anniversary

Outpatient surgery, recovery at home: the Center for Outpatient Surgery (AOZ) at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2023. In the joint facility of the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, the treatment methods and aftercare options have developed enormously since the center was founded in 1998. Currently, over 20,000 procedures are performed annually in the Departments of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Otolaryngology on an outpatient basis, i.e. without an inpatient stay.

"The Outpatient Surgery Center has been an indispensable facility for the care of patients in the region for 25 years," says Prof. Dr. Thomas Reinhard, Medical Director of the Eye Center - University of Freiburg Medical Center. "With the Outpatient Surgery Centre, we showed very early on the strength of outpatient care for patients and hospitals."

Surgery possible under local and general anesthesia

The AOZ is characterized in particular by short hospital stays. Patients who undergo procedures under local anesthesia are usually only in the AOZ for 30 to 60 minutes. If general anesthesia is required, patients can leave the AOZ after around four hours. The short length of stay is a considerable advantage over inpatient stays, as patients are not taken out of their familiar home environment. "As a highly specialized medical facility, the Surgery Theatre (OPZ) is fully geared towards the needs of outpatients without compromising on the quality standards of inpatient treatment," says Prof. Dr. Andreas Knopf, Medical Director of the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (OPZ) at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.

The majority of patients at the Eye Center who are treated at the AOZ have age-related macular degeneration. This affects the area of sharpest vision in the retina; those affected perceive a blurred spot in the middle of their field of vision in which sharp vision is no longer possible. Regular injections can halt the progression of the disease. In addition, almost 4,000 cataract operations are performed at the AOZ every year. The most common procedures performed by the Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology at the AOZ include sampling in connection with tumor diagnostics, the removal of tonsils and eardrum incisions in children.

"A crucial point with outpatient operations is that aftercare is ensured," emphasizes Reinhard. This is where patients benefit from the close cooperation in the Eye Center Südbaden network, in which the Eye Center and ophthalmologists in private practice can exchange all relevant information seamlessly and securely.

Picture captions:
Image 1: Five patients can be prepared for surgery at the same time in the Center for Outpatient Surgery.
Image 2: Cataract surgery, injections for wet macular degeneration, tumor biopsies and minor procedures on children are performed in the outpatient operating theatre.
Image 3: Patients can register for their procedure in the friendly waiting area.
Image source: Medical Center - University of Freiburg