Status and insights of day surgery: A domestic and international review

Ambulatory surgery in China has entered a phase of rapid development, and its proportion serves as a key indicator in the performance assessment of public hospitals. This paper systematically reviews the current status of ambulatory surgery domestically and internationally, focusing on a comparative analysis of clinical pathways, surgical scopes, and management policies. Drawing on advanced international practices in evaluation and incentive mechanisms and integrating them with the Chinese context, this paper proposes improvement measures including optimizing admission criteria, enhancing continuity of care, and aligning medical insurance policies. These recommendations aim to provide a reference for improving the clinical quality and management efficiency of ambulatory surgery in China.