Recovery, Postoperative Deterioration & Handover
Recognise early complications and maintain continuity from theatre to the next care setting.
Quick revision ↓ Medical Dictionary
01Structured handover
Communicate procedure, anaesthetic technique, airway issues, medicines, fluids, blood loss and concerns. Include lines, drains, analgesia and escalation plans. A transfer is a change in responsibility, so the receiving team must understand both what happened and what needs ongoing review.
02Airway and breathing
Assess obstruction, respiratory rate, effort, oxygenation and ventilation when indicated. Residual drugs, weakness, pain and pulmonary complications can impair recovery. A normal saturation on oxygen does not exclude hypoventilation, and reduced responsiveness requires assessment rather than a simple instruction to sleep.
03Circulation and temperature
Review bleeding, perfusion, blood pressure, rhythm, fluid balance and temperature. Hypotension may reflect several causes, including haemorrhage or drug effects. Reassess after treatment and escalate persistent abnormality instead of repeatedly giving an intervention without evidence of benefit.
04Common symptoms
Treat pain, nausea, vomiting and shivering with an individual plan while considering underlying causes. Severe unexpected pain can indicate a complication rather than inadequate analgesia alone. Assess urinary retention and other recovery barriers without assuming every symptom will resolve automatically.
05Safe step-down
Transfer or discharge should follow agreed criteria and the patient’s risk, not pressure to free a bed. Confirm prescriptions, observations, wound and device plans, and who to contact if concerns arise. High-risk patients may need extended monitoring or critical-care support despite a completed operation.
High-Yield Revision
- Handover transfers responsibility as well as information.
- Unexpected severe pain needs a cause assessed.
- Discharge criteria must match patient risk.
Common Pitfalls
- Assuming normal saturation excludes hypoventilation.
- Treating persistent hypotension without reassessing the cause.
References & Further Reading
Read the relevant guideline sections alongside these original clinical teaching cases. Local pathways, available services and individual patient factors determine care.
Reference review: 29 September 2026. Consult current local protocols for prescribing, procedures and escalation.