To shed light on the practice of outpatient anethesia in Finland 126 hospitals performing outpatient surgery were asked about the drugs used and about postoperative care. 64% of the hospitals replied. I.v. were more popular than inhalation agents. Diazepam (57%), propanidid (52%) and thiopentone (52%) were the most commonly used drugs. N2O, mostly in combination with other anesthetics, diazepam with pethidine, and halothane were used in 48%, 41% and 36% of the hospitals respectively. Divinylether and diethylether were employed in 35% and 15% , respectively. Propanidid, thiopentone and diazepam were the 1st choice in 29%, 21% and 11% respectively, while divinylether was still the 1st choice agent in 11%. Most central hospitals used N2O (85%), thiopentone (65%), halothane (60%), propanidid (50%) and methohexitone (25%). Small hospitals, where anesthesia was not administered by specialists, most frequently used ethers (divinylether 51%, diethylether 29%), diazepam with pethidine (54%), propanidid (49%) and diazepam alone (34%). After propanidid, thiopentone and methohexitone patients were generally kept in hospital for 3 h and advised against driving for between 17 to 20 h. The choice of drugs seems appropriate. Supplementation with N2O could reduce the high doses of i.v. anesthetics used and result in reduced side-effects and more rapid recovery. The wide use of involved anesthetic trchniques in rural areas stresses the importance of teaching anesthesiology to general practitioners.