Management of common surgical complications

Postoperative complications represent a potentially avoidable cause of morbidity and mortality. Meticulous preoperative assessment and planning is essential and allows for the delivery of preventative measures throughout the peri-operative period.The importance of recognizing complications early when they do arise is essential, and allows for the timely provision of appropriate and targeted therapies. This article describes common surgical complications and suggests management strategies that can be instituted throughout the surgical care pathway in order to reduce complication rates and decrease unnecessary morbidity and mortality.