The care that a patient receives in the first hours after surgery is crucial to minimizing the risk of complications such as heart attacks, pneumonia, and blood clots. As the patient awakes from their drug-induced coma, ithey remain unable to care for themselves, and at increased risk of harm. It is an environment where many skills and equipment are brought together, and successful development of recovery room units has significantly reduced the number of deaths from preventable conditions. This is a new edition of an established text that enables those working in the postoperative environment to manage day-to-day problems, but also make difficult decisions. It is a practical guide to setting-up, equipping, staffing, and administering this acute care unit.

Golden rules; 1. Recovery room routines; 2. Recovery room procedures; 3. Monitoring and equipment; 4. Pain; 5. Post-operative pain; 6. Analgesics; 7. Nausea and vomiting; 8. Regional analgesia; 9. Special problems; 10. Pharmacology; 11. Mothers and babies; 12. Paediatrics; 13. The elderly patient; 14. Respiratory physiology; 15. The respiratory system; 16. Cardiovascular physiology; 17. Cardiovascular disease; 18. Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; 19. Shock; 20. Crisis management; 21. The kidney; 22. Fluid balance; 23. Metabolism; 24. Chronic disorders; 25. The bleeding patient; 26. Surgical issues; 27. Infection control; 28. Design of recovery room; 29. Working with people; 30. Working with facts; Appendix 1: Trolley setups; Appendix 2: Infusions; Glossary; Abbreviations; Useful data

Anthea HatfieldConsultant Anaesthetist, Taranaki Base Hospital, New Plymouth, New Zealand, Michael TronsonAnaesthetist in charge of Preoperative Assessment, Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne, Australia