Preoperative Care
Understand preoperative assessments, medical evaluations, testing, and appointments before surgery.
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Perioperative Health Education
Understand Your Surgical Journey From Preparation to Recovery
Perioperative Medicine provides practical, evidence-based information about preparing for surgery, preoperative assessment, anesthesia, perioperative care, and postoperative recovery.
Perioperative Care at Every Stage
Find clear educational information covering the stages before, during, and after a surgical procedure.
Surgery Preparation
Practical information for getting ready for surgery and understanding what patients may need before arrival.
Prepare for Surgery →Anesthesia
Learn about general, regional, and local anesthesia and the healthcare professionals involved in anesthesia care.
Understand Anesthesia →Recovery
Understand the recovery room, postoperative monitoring, and common stages following surgery.
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Understanding Perioperative Care
What Is Perioperative Medicine?
Perioperative medicine focuses on the care of patients throughout the surgical journey, including evaluation and preparation before surgery, medical management surrounding the procedure, and postoperative recovery.
This approach brings together surgical, anesthesia, medical, nursing, and recovery teams to address factors that may influence a patient's care around the time of surgery.
Read the Complete GuidePreoperative Care Guides
Learn what happens before surgery and understand the evaluations and preparation patients may encounter.
Preoperative Care
What Is a Preoperative Assessment?
Understand what clinicians may evaluate before surgery and how preoperative assessment supports surgical planning.
Before Surgery
What Happens at a Pre-Op Appointment?
A practical overview of the questions, evaluations, and preparation that may take place during a preoperative visit.
Preoperative Evaluation
What Does Medical Clearance for Surgery Mean?
Learn how health conditions and other medical factors may be evaluated as part of planning for surgery.
Patient Resource
Surgery Preparation Checklist
Review your instructions
Organize medical information
Prepare transportation
Know what to bring
Getting Ready
Prepare for Surgery With a Clear Plan
Surgical preparation often involves several practical steps. Our guide organizes important questions and considerations patients can review with their healthcare team before the day of surgery.
Individual instructions vary by procedure, hospital, and medical circumstances. Always follow the directions provided by your surgical and anesthesia teams.
Understand Anesthesia and What Happens Next
Explore educational guides about anesthesia, the recovery room, and the early stages after surgery.
Anesthesia
What Is General Anesthesia?
Learn the basics of general anesthesia and how anesthesia professionals monitor patients during procedures.
Recovery
What Is the PACU?
Understand the role of the post-anesthesia care unit and what patients may experience following surgery.
Anesthesia Recovery
Waking Up From Anesthesia
Learn what commonly occurs as anesthesia wears off and postoperative monitoring begins.
Perioperative Nursing
Learn about nurses and healthcare professionals who support patients throughout the surgical environment.
Nursing
What Is a Perioperative Nurse?
Understand the role perioperative nurses play before, during, and after surgical procedures.
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Operating Room
What Does a Circulating Nurse Do?
Learn about the responsibilities of circulating nurses within the operating room.
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Recovery Nursing
What Does a PACU Nurse Do?
Explore how PACU nurses care for and monitor patients following anesthesia and surgery.
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Editorial Standards
Information Designed to Be Clear and Verifiable
Perioperative Medicine develops educational health content using reputable clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed research, professional medical organizations, and established healthcare institutions.
Health information should help readers understand a topic and prepare informed questions for their own healthcare professionals.
Read Our Editorial PolicyEvidence-Based Sources
References prioritize established guidelines, professional societies, and peer-reviewed medical research.
Clear Authorship
Articles identify their writers, editors, and medical reviewers where applicable.
Medical Review
Clinical content can be reviewed by appropriately qualified healthcare professionals.
Updates & Corrections
Content may be reviewed and updated as guidelines and medical knowledge develop.