Preoperatively

Preoperatively refers to the time, actions, or conditions that occur before a surgical procedure. In clinical documentation, it describes planning and preparation aimed at ensuring patient safety and readiness for anesthesia and surgery.

Preoperative assessment typically includes gathering medical history, performing a physical examination, and conducting risk stratification to estimate perioperative risk. An anesthesia evaluation assesses airway, cardiopulmonary status, and other factors that may influence anesthesia planning. Tests such as laboratory studies or imaging are ordered as indicated by the patient’s condition and the planned procedure. The goal is to identify problems that could increase surgical risk or require modification of the plan.

Preoperative optimization seeks to improve health status prior to surgery. This may involve managing chronic conditions (for example, controlling blood pressure or diabetes, treating anemia), promoting smoking cessation, encouraging weight loss when appropriate, and ensuring vaccinations are up to date. Medication management is often addressed, with instructions on withholding or adjusting anticoagulants, antiplatelets, insulin, or other drugs as indicated. Fasting guidelines (NPO) are provided to reduce the risk of aspiration during anesthesia. Preoperative skin preparation and planning for hair removal are considered to minimize infection risk.

Consent and surgical site marking are typically completed preoperatively, along with patient education about the procedure, anesthesia, expected recovery, and postoperative care. The preoperative phase varies with patient factors and procedure complexity but remains a standardized part of surgical care designed to optimize outcomes and reduce complications. In research settings, preoperatively may denote measurements taken before an operation in a study.