Thirty percent of patients have moderate to severe pain 24 hr after ambulatory surgery: a survey of 5,703 patients.

Purpose: Postoperative pain is the commonest reason for delayed discharge and unanticipated hospital admission after ambulatory surgery. We investigated the severity of pain at 24 hr postoperatively and determined the most painful procedures. The need for further medical advice and clarity of postoperative analgesia instructions were also studied.