Foundation and early history of the International Association for Ambulatory Surgery

1995 - 2001

The initiative to establish Ambulatory (Day) Surgery in the International Forum can be trace to the First European Congress on Ambulatory Surgery, which was held in Brussels, Belgium, 8-9th March 1991, and organised by Claude de Lathouwer, President, Belgian Association of Ambulatory Surgery. This was a success, with 600 delegates from 25 countries, and it was decided to hold another conference in 1993.

The Second European Congress on Ambulatory Surgery was held in Brussels, 19-20th March 1993, during which a group of representatives from interested nations held an informal meeting, convened by Claude de Lathouwer, to consider the formation of an international association dedicated to ambulatory surgery. The proposal attracted strong support and it was agreed that more formal meetings of the group of interested representatives should be organised.

A further meeting was held in London (UK), 17-18th September 1993, and the interested group became the Foundation Committee, which unanimously agreed that the International Association for Ambulatory Surgery should be formed. Claude de Lathouwer was elected Convenor. Member nations of the Foundation Committee were: Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

It was also decided that the Association should be registered in Brussels and this would require preparation of a Constitution. Ambulatory Surgery, a journal dedicated to ambulatory (day) surgery practice had been commenced in 1992, with Paul Jarrett (UK) as editor. The first issue was launched in March 1993 during the Second European Congress. It was agreed that Ambulatory Surgery would become the official journal of the Association.

The next meeting of the Foundation Committee was held in Orlando (USA), 9-10th May 1994, and this was almost entirely dedicated to drawing up the Constitution. Claude de Lathouwer agreed to prepare a draft Constitution. It was also agreed that the next conference should be held in Brussels, 14-15th March 1995, as the First International (Third European) Congress on Ambulatory Surgery.

The Foundation Committee met again on 14th March 1995 during the First International (Third European) Congress on Ambulatory Surgery and the Constitution was adopted. The following day, 15th March 1995, formation of the International Association for Ambulatory Surgery was announced at the Congress by Claude de Lathouwer, who had been elected Foundation President. A Foundation dinner was held the same night.

The main objectives of the Association are:

• to serve as an international multi-disciplinary forum for the exchange of information and advancement of ambulatory surgery
• to promote education and research
• to establish guidelines and
• to act as an advisory body to all interested parties for the development and maintenance of high standards of patient care in ambulatory surgery facilities.

Claude de Lathouwer offered to locate the Secretariat of the Association at his office in Brussels and this was gratefully accepted by the Executive, which was formed from the Foundation Committee. The efforts of Claude de Lathouwer in organising the Congresses, convening meetings of the Foundation Committee and preparing the Constitution of the Association, were acknowledged by the Executive. He also initiated the important project of collecting international data on ambulatory surgery practice in conjunction with the Organisation for Education and Co-operative Development (OECD). This data has been published and continues to be updated.