intraoperatively

Intraoperatively is an adverb describing events that occur during a surgical procedure. In medical literature, it designates observations, measurements, decisions, or actions taken while a patient is under anesthesia and the operative field is exposed. The term contrasts with preoperative (before surgery) and postoperative (after surgery) periods. It is used across many surgical specialties to communicate the timing of findings or interventions.

During the operation, intraoperative management may include anesthesia care, patient positioning, sterile technique, hemostasis, and tissue handling. Common intraoperative activities also involve imaging or monitoring performed in real time—such as fluoroscopy, ultrasound, intraoperative MRI or CT, and neurophysiological monitoring—to guide resections, placements, or reconstructions. Intraoperative pathology, including rapid frozen-section analysis, may determine margins or diagnostic direction. Decisions made intraoperatively can affect resection extent, reconstructive strategy, or the need for additional procedures.

Documentation of intraoperative findings is typically included in the operative report. The term underscores the dynamic nature of surgical care, where assessment and actions adapt to real-time information, patient response, and evolving goals. Research and quality improvement studies often analyze intraoperative variables to evaluate outcomes, technical feasibility, or safety.