Perioperative medicine. Are the anesthesiologists ready?

Perioperative medicine starts with preoperative assessment and preparation of patients undergoing various procedures. It includes intraoperative care and continues postproceudral management, from recovery room to intensive care and step-down facilities. Acute pain management must be optimized in order to enhance rehabilitation and restoration of functions. Perioperative medicine also includes management of acute and chronic pain. Potential areas of anesthesia involvement, still unclear, include preoperative and postoperative ward management and complete preparation such as cardiology or pulmonary testing. Further steps to take in the direction of perioperative medicine are the development of a different model of resident training, and the improvement of information technology and medical record.