Post-anesthesia care unit

A post-anesthesia care unit, often abbreviated PACU and sometimes referred to as post-anesthesia recovery or PAR, or simply Recovery, is a vital part of hospitals, ambulatory care centers, and other medical facilities. Patients who received general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, or local anesthesia are transferred from the operating room suites to the recovery area. The patients are monitored typically by anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and other medical staff. Providers follow a standardized handoff to the medical PACU staff that includes, which medications were given in the operating room suites, how hemodynamics were during the procedures, and what is expected for their recovery. After initial assessment and stabilization, patients are monitored for any potential complications, until the patient is transferred back to their hospital rooms. The initial handoff, or otherwise referred as handover, is an interdisciplinary transfer of essential and critical patient information from one healthcare provider to another. Variations do exist depending on certain hospitals, medical facilities, and patient presentations. The most common information includes: Patient Name and Date of Birth Allergies, Past Medical History, Relevant Home Medications Operating Room Course: Preoperative medications received Access for medications (IV lines, Gauges used, Locations) Anesthetics Type Airway, Relaxant, Reversal Antibiotics, Analgesics, Antiemetics Administered Other Medications Fluids administered and volume status Any Complications or concerns Relevant information specific for patient's case for PACU staff to monitor Specific recommendations for the post-anesthesia plan of care As the patient remains in the PACU, the following are consistently monitored by medical professionals: Vital signs (Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, Temperature, and Respiratory Rate) Electrocardiogram Saturation of Oxygen (SpO2) Airway Patency Mental Status Neuromuscular Function Postoperative pain Surgical sites for excessive bleeding, mucopurulent discharge, swelling, hematomas, wound healing, and infection Vital signs are obtained every 5 minutes for the first 15 minutes.