Assessment of postanesthesia short-term quality of life: a pilot study.

Quality of life is a major focus for researchers conducting studies on patient satisfaction and anesthetic outcomes. Efficacy and safety drive anesthesia providers' determination of the type of anesthesia administered, yet little consideration is given to postanesthesia quality of life from the patient's perspective. We hypothesized that patient-defined, postanesthesia short-term quality-of-life issues are significant factors to consider when selecting anesthesia.