Overview

Perioperative medical complications significantly increase morbidity and mortality, as well as the financial cost associated with surgical procedures. These complications are increased in patients of advanced age and in those with co-existing medical conditions. Comprehensive perioperative risk assessment and focused postoperative medical management have become an integral part of cost-effective, quality patient care.

Among health care professionals, awareness of innovations in medical therapies and changes in clinical guidelines, as well as an understanding of their evidence-based rationale, are important factors related to improving surgical outcomes. However, as perioperative patient care expands to include a wider range of specialties, some clinicians feel unprepared and uncomfortable in their role as medical consultants and co-managers of surgical patients, especially those at high risk for complications.

Our goal is to enable clinicians who are actively engaged in perioperative medical care to incorporate the latest findings from clinical research into their office and hospital practice so that they can provide quality and safe medical care.