Word parts
What it means
The period after an operation. It starts when the client leaves the operating room for the recovery area (PACU) and goes on until healing is complete. The early postoperative nurse watches the airway, breathing, circulation, pain, bleeding and the effects of anesthesiaan-us-THEE-zhuhLoss of feeling or sensation, often brought on by drugs so that surgery or a procedure can be done without pain.an- withoutesthesi/o feeling, sensation-ia conditionFull entry .
For the nurse
Check vital signs often, the dressing and drains for bleeding, pain level and urine output. Prevent complicationkom-plih-KAY-shunA new health problem that develops during or after an illness, procedure or treatment.Full entry by helping the client turn, cough, deep breathe and use the incentive spirometer, and by getting the client out of bed as ordered.
In a chart
"Postoperative day 1: ambulated in hall twice, incision clean, dry and intact."
At a glance
| Abbreviations | post-op |
|---|---|
| Spanish | posoperatorio |
| Also written | postop, post-op, post-operative, postoperatively |
Related terms
complication
A new health problem that develops during or after an illness, procedure or treatment.
anesthesia
Loss of feeling or sensation, often brought on by drugs so that surgery or a procedure can be done without pain.