International Journal covering Surgery, Anaesthesiology, Nursing and Management Issues in Day Surgery

Refereeing All contributions are read by two or more referees to ensure both accuracy and relevance, and amendments to the script may thus be required before final acceptance. On acceptance, contributions are subject to editorial amendment to suit house style.

Copyright The submission of a paper will imply that, if accepted for publication, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in any language without the consent of the Publisher. Before publication, authors are requested to assign Copyright to the Publisher to sanction reprints and photocopies and to authorize the reprinting of complete issues or volumes according to demand. Authors' traditional rights will not be jeopardized by assigning Copyright in this manner, as they will retain the right to reuse and veto third-party publications. It is the author's responsibility to obtain written permission to quote material that has appeared in another journal.

Preparation of Scripts You should write in clear and concise English. Spelling should follow the Oxford English Dictionary. Authors whose native tongue is not English are assured that in-house editorial attention to their contributions will improve clarity and acceptability to readers. You should have your contribution typed in double-line spacing, on one-side only of A4 paper. Do not underline anything. Leave wide margins. Number every sheet.

Arrangement of Papers You should arrange your contribution in the following order: 1. Title page including the article title, author(s), affiliation(s), keywords and one author identified for correspondence. 2. 50-100 word abstract outlining the purpose,scope and conclusions of the paper. 3. The text, suitable divided under headings. 4. Acknowledgements (if any). 5. References. 6. Table (each on separate sheet). 7. Captions to illustrations (grouped on a separate sheet or sheets). 8. Illustrations, each on a separate sheet containing no text.

All submissions should be accompanied by a written declaration that the paper has not been submitted for consideration elsewhere.

Submission Three copies of the manuscript together with a diskette containing the text should be sent to either of the Editors-in-Chief: Mr. P.E.M. Jarrett, Langleys, Queens Drive, Oxshott, Surrey KT22 0PB, UK or B.K. Philip, MD, Day Surgery Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. All manuscripts in the field of Anaesthesiology should be sent to the attention of Dr. B.K. Philip.

Text Subdivide your paper in the simplest way possible, consistent with clarity. Trade names should have an initial capital letter.

Tables Number tables consecutively throughout the paper (with Arabic numerals) referring to them in the text as Table 1, Table 2, etc. with a caption at the top of each table. Avoid the use of vertical rules. Tables should not duplicate results presented in graphs.

Illustrations All illustrations should be identified with the author's name and figure number marked in pencil.

Line illustrations: The originals must be supplied on separate sheets, with two photocopies. Illustrations will be photographically reduced in size, typically to fit one or two columns of the journal and this should be borne in mind to ensure that lines and lettering remain clear and do not break up on reduction. If you label the original illustrations do so in black ink using a suitable stencil. Lowercase letters should be used throughout, with an initial capital letter for the first word only. If your illustrations are computer-generated follow the lettering standards as above and supply the blackest possible laser printout.

Graphs: The minimum amount of descriptive text should be used on graphs and drawings (label curves, points, etc., with single-letter symbols). Descriptive matter should be placed in the figure caption. Scale grids should not be used in graphs, unless required for actual measurements. Graph axes should be labelled with variables written out in full, along the length of the axes, with the unit in parentheses (for example. Time (s)). A table is usually more satisfactory for recording data.

Photographs: Supply glossy/black-and-white unmounted prints or 35mm transparencies, plus two photocopies. A scale, where appropriate, should be marked on the photographs or included in the caption.

Colour reproduction is available if the author is willing to bear the additional printing costs.

References Indicate references to the literature in the text by Arabic numerals in square brackets which run consecutively through the paper. Where you cite a reference more than once in the text, use the same number each time. References should take the following form:

1 Watcha MF, Simeon RM, White PF, Stevens JL. Effect of propofol on the incidence of postoperative vomiting after strabismus surgery in pediatric outpatients. Anesthesiology 1991;75:204-209.

2 Hunt SM, McEwan J, McKenna SP. Measuring Health Status. London: Croom Helm, 1986.

3 Reich H. New techniques in advance laparoscopic surgery. In: Sutton C. ed. Bailliere's Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Vol 3, 1989:655-681.

Please ensure that references are complete, i.e. that they include, where relevant, author's name, article or book title, volume and issue number, publisher, year and page reference.

Check List * Have you told readers, at the outset, what they might gain by reading your paper? * Have you made the aim of your work clear? * Have you explained the significance of your contribution? * Have you set your work in the appropriate context by giving sufficient background (including a complete set of relevant references) to your work? * Have you addressed the question of practicality and usefulness? * Have you identified future developments that may result from your work? * Have you structured your paper in a clear and logical fashion?

Proofs Correspondence and proofs for correction will be sent to the first named author unless otherwise indicated. Please include a fax number if available. The author will receive page proofs for checking, but it is hope to correct only typesetting errors. It is important that proofs be returned within 48 hours. Authors may be charged for alterations in excess of 10% of the original setting.

Offprints and reprints The principal author will receive 50 offprints of the paper. Extra offprint copies (minimum 100) can be ordered prior to publication.