Preoperative Assessment and Optimization

Copyright © 2013 International Anesthesia Research Society INTRODUCTION Ambulatory surgery continues to expand with complex patients having several comorbid conditions undergoing complex and invasive surgical procedures. Simultaneously, there is emphasis on enhanced postoperative recovery that has been shown to facilitate early discharge home and early resumption of normal daily activities.1 The process of enhanced recovery starts preoperatively and continues until the patient returns to activities of daily living. It involves preoperative optimization of patients’ health, use of anesthetic techniques that optimize surgical conditions while ensuring rapid recovery with minimal side effects, prevention of common postoperative complications, and aggressive rehabilitation with the aim of restoring the patient to the best health possible. This requires a multidisciplinary approach to perioperative care in which the anesthesiologist can play a lead role. The aim of this presentation is to discuss the current evidence for optimal perioperative care that would allow rapid recovery after ambulatory surgery in adults.