Perioperative Care: What You Need to Know About Medications, Risks, and Recovery

When you hear the word perioperative, the period surrounding surgery that includes preparation before, the procedure itself, and recovery afterward. Also known as surgical care cycle, it’s not just about the operation—it’s everything that happens from the moment you’re told you need surgery to the day you’re back on your feet. Many people think surgery is the big event, but the real magic—and risk—happens in the days leading up to it and right after.

Take preoperative preparation, the steps you take before surgery to reduce complications. It’s not just fasting. It’s stopping certain meds like blood thinners, managing diabetes or high blood pressure, and even quitting smoking. Did you know that stopping alcohol two weeks before surgery can cut your risk of infection by nearly 40%? That’s not a myth—it’s from real hospital data. And then there’s postoperative recovery, the critical window after surgery where your body heals and your care team watches for warning signs. This is where meds like digoxin, torsemide, or hydroxychloroquine might still be in play, depending on your condition. It’s also where pain control, fluid balance, and early movement matter more than you think.

Perioperative care doesn’t just involve doctors. It’s nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, and even your family. Think about it: if you’re on methotrexate for arthritis and need knee surgery, your doctor has to decide whether to pause it. If you’re taking nitroglycerin for angina, they need to know how it interacts with anesthesia. Even something as simple as a cough or a cold can delay surgery because your lungs need to be ready. This is why perioperative care isn’t a checklist—it’s a conversation. You need to ask: What meds should I stop? What can I keep? What symptoms mean I need to call right away?

And it’s not just for older adults. People of all ages face risks if this phase is rushed. A young athlete having ACL surgery might think they’re fine to keep taking anti-inflammatories. But that could mean more bleeding. A senior on diuretics might not realize that skipping their morning dose before surgery could mess with their electrolytes. The same goes for drugs like ticlopidine or baclofen—each has a unique role in this window.

What you’ll find below isn’t just a list of articles. It’s a collection of real, practical guides written by people who’ve been through this. From how torsemide affects fluid balance after surgery, to why alcohol and methotrexate are a dangerous mix during recovery, to how digoxin is managed in heart failure patients facing surgery—these posts cut through the noise. No fluff. No jargon. Just what you need to know to stay safe and recover faster.