Postoperative Evaluation and Care

Medicine consultants are often called upon to collaborate on the care of patients in the immediate post-operative period. Attention to medical comorbidities, operative and anesthetic course, and a thoughtful postoperative history and physical examination can help support optimal care and reduce complications. This chapter provides an overview of medical assessment in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), common immediate postoperative complications, and common issues to consider when newly consulting or following patients longitudinally after a surgical procedure.