Preoperative care is the preparation and management of a patient prior to surgery. It includes both physical and psychological preparation. Patients who are physically and psychologically prepared for surgery tend to have better surgical outcomes. Preoperative care is extremely important prior to any invasive procedure, regardless of whether the procedure is minimally invasive or a form of major surgery.

Preoperative care involves many components, and may be done the day before surgery or during the weeks before surgery on an inpatient basis.

Physical preparation: Physical preparation may consist of a complete medical history and physical exam, including the patient’s surgical and anesthesia background. It includes assessment for risk factors that might impair healing, such as nutritional deficiencies, steroid use, radiation or chemotherapy, drug or alcohol abuse, or metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Laboratory tests may include complete blood count, electrolytes, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and urinalysis.

Psychological preparation: Patients are often fearful or anxious about having surgery. It is often helpful for them to express their concerns to health care workers. This can be especially beneficial for patients who are critically ill, or who are having a high-risk procedure. The family needs to be included in psychological preoperative care. Pastoral care is usually offered in the hospital. Patients and families who are prepared psychologically tend to cope better with the patient’s postoperative course. Preparation leads to superior outcomes since the goals of recovery are known ahead of time, and the patient is able to manage postoperative pain more effectively.

Preoperative teaching: Preoperative teaching includes instruction about the preoperative period, the surgery itself, and the postoperative period. Preoperative teaching meets the patient’s need for information regarding the surgical experience, which in turn may alleviate most of his or her fears. Patients who are more knowledgeable about what to expect after surgery, and who have an opportunity to express their goals and opinions, often cope better with postoperative pain and decreased mobility.