Recovery and the postoperative period

Recovery and the postoperative period are times of significant physiological change, and, as with induction, the risks of complications and the need for rapid responses are at their greatest. The importance of controlled management and monitoring is discussed in this article. Airway control and breathing remain the most important aspects, and these are principally affected by residual muscular blockade, changing inhalational gas mixtures and returning reflex and conscious activity. The issues surrounding the assessment and appropriate management of muscular block, and the importance of maintaining oxygenation and normocapnia are emphasized. The various groups of sedating agents and the difficulties in their reversal are reviewed. The recovery period on the general ward is also examined, with particular emphasis on the provision and value of oxygenation, fluid management and analgesia.