title: Patient safety in the operating room: II. Intraoperative and postoperative.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The perioperative environment can be hazardous to patients and providers alike. Although many risks are best addressed preoperatively, some hazards require constant attention by the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and staff in the operating room. In a previous article, the authors discussed preoperative aspects of patient safety. In this article, the authors review intraoperative and postoperative risks and techniques to decrease these risks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors reviewed the literature regarding operating room safety, both primary research and secondary reviews, via multiple PubMed queries and literature searches. Topics most relevant to inpatient plastic surgery were included in the final analysis and summarized, as a full review of each topic is beyond the scope of this article.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several intraoperative and postoperative risks were identified, in addition to methods designed to decrease the incidence of those risks, complications, and other adverse events among plastic surgeons and their patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this article covering intraoperative and postoperative hazards, the authors build upon a previous article addressing preoperative risks to patients during inpatient plastic surgery. Although neither article covers an exhaustive list of potential risks, the goal is to provide the modern plastic surgeon with the means to prevent common adverse events, as well as the tools to research new hazards.
authors.affiliation: Madison, Wis.; Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; and Glenview, Ill. From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin; Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Geisinger Wyoming Valley; and private practice.
authors.forename: Samuel O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Poore
authors.forename: Nyama M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Sillah
authors.forename: Ashish Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: Karol A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gutowski
mesh_terms: D046288:Body Piercing; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008305:Malignant Hyperthermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009873:Operating Rooms; D062209:Patient Handoff / Q000592:standards; D061214:Patient Safety; D011184:Postoperative Period; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013043:Specialties, Surgical; D015503:Surgical Sponges; D014111:Tourniquets; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control