Abstract
Objective: To compare day case versus inpatient surgery in Gaza Jordanian Military Field Hospital.
Methods: We conducted nearly a twenty two month retrospective study at Jordanian Military Field Hospital in Gaza Strip. This study was done during the period from (26-1-2009 till 22-11-2011) for all patients attending the hospital from Gaza 1 till Gaza 10 Missions, A total number of 10621 patients were included in this study based on patients' records and the type of operations which were done as one day surgery during the review period. Simple descriptive statistical methods (Percentage, frequency, mean age and numbers) were used to describe the study variables
Results: The percentage of day case surgery in comparison to in-hospital procedures overall 80% (20 % of the patients were only admitted and 80% of the operations were done on an outpatient basis), with 73% in adults and 27% in children.
General surgery, orthopedic, gynecology and obstetrics, and ophthalmology were the most common ambulatory procedures
(Figure 1). There is a changing attitude with a great prospect for the practice
of day case surgery in Gaza Jordanian Military Field Hospital. The mean age of the patients was 33 (standard deviation, 28) years, preferred day-case surgery. A total of 10621 patients found that on the day of surgery (See Table 1).
All in all major (5320) and minor cases (5301) cases. Anesthesia induction was local and regional in most cases but some
needed general anesthesia. Pain was the most frequent complaint on follow-up, for which Paracetamol and NSAIDs were the most common analgesics given to the patients. An escort presence was mandatory. This study showed a reduction in
the number of nights spent in hospital in the day-case group.
Conclusion: Our results show that day case surgery can be efficiently and safely practiced at the Jordanian Military Field Hospital in Gaza Strip. Day case surgery is better than in patient care for most of elective surgeries and day surgery may reduce the overall cost of hospital care. Pain is the most common complaint for day case patients after discharge. It is necessary to make all the efforts and to keep up to date relevant technological drive to use the full potentials and all necessities of this
practice in this part of the world.

Key words: Day Case, Field Hospital, Surgery.