Perioperative medicine
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (December 2011) |
Perioperative medicine is the medical care of patients from the time of contemplation of surgery through the operative period to full recovery, but excludes the operation or procedure itself. Perioperative care may be provided by an anesthesiologist, Intensivist, an internal medicine generalist or hospitalist working with surgical colleagues.
Background
Perioperative medicine encompasses the care of the patient preparing for, having and recuperating from surgery. In the practice of perioperative medicine the surgeon, anesthesiologist, intensivist and medical consultant work in concert. The medical knowledge distinct to this field includes that of operative risk and complications, of patient specific risks, of methods to reduce risk, and of the management of medical illness during this time period. Evidence supporting best practices in perioperative medicine is expanding, though historically this field has been directed by common practice and experience. It remains a field governed primarily by the art of medicine.
Notably, in the last decade, there has been a concerted effort by various anesthesia representative bodies to incorporate greater teaching into management of patients during the perioperative period. Specifically, an annual summit has been held in the US, and various courses exist to encourage this field of medicine.
See also
External links
- Royal College of Anaesthetists 2014 vision document to contextualise and introduce the future care of patients contemplating surgery with examples from hospitals that have successfully implemented perioperative solutions in the UK.
- Perioperative Medicine Short Course
- Perioperative Medicine Summit
- Perioperative Interactive Education (PIE) - online learning resource