postoperative
Following the operation
Postoperative refers to the period following a surgical procedure: postoperative care, postoperative complications.
The term appears in medical contexts to describe anything occurring after an operation—recovery, instructions, pain, or monitoring.
Often shortened to post-op: The patient is in post-op.
Post-procedure recovery support
- nursingMedical caretaking profession
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- wound careTreatment of bodily injuries
- pain managementReducing patient suffering medically
medication · dressings · bandaging · vital signs · intravenous therapy · drainage · catheter · patient education
Recovery from injury/addiction
- physiotherapyTreatment restoring bodily function
- physical therapyRehabilitative movement-based medical care
- convalescencePost-illness healing phase
- recuperationGradual return to health
rest · mobility · strength · exercise · progress · improvement · range of motion · walking
Restoration after injury
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
- scarPermanent mark from healing
- suturesMedical wound closures
- stitchesThread fastening wounds
staples · granulation · tissue regeneration · swelling · bruising · inflammation · scab · closure
Prescribed sequence of actions
- surgeonPhysician who operates
- anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
- sterileFree from microorganisms
recovery room · sedation · general anesthesia · local anesthesia · laparoscopic · minimally invasive · outpatient · inpatient
Protected person; division
- nurseHealthcare provider, bedside
- doctorLicensed medical healer
- patientAble to wait calmly
- bedFurniture for slumber
monitor · IV · gown · admission · discharge · rounds · chart · vitals
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- bleedingBlood loss from injury
- hemorrhageProfuse discharge of blood
- blood clotCoagulated mass in vessels
- deep vein thrombosisClot in leg vessel
pulmonary embolism · fever · sepsis · pneumonia · nausea · vomiting · constipation · ileus
aftercare
Post-procedure recovery support
- nursingMedical caretaking profession
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- wound careTreatment of bodily injuries
pain management · medication · dressings · bandaging · vital signs · intravenous therapy · drainage · catheter · patient education · home care
rehabilitation
Recovery from injury/addiction
- physiotherapyTreatment restoring bodily function
- physical therapyRehabilitative movement-based medical care
- convalescencePost-illness healing phase
recuperation · rest · mobility · strength · exercise · progress · improvement · range of motion · walking · ambulation
wound healing
Restoration after injury
stitches · staples · granulation · tissue regeneration · swelling · bruising · inflammation · scab · closure · adhesion
procedure
Prescribed sequence of actions
- surgeonPhysician who operates
- anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
sterile · recovery room · sedation · general anesthesia · local anesthesia · laparoscopic · minimally invasive · outpatient · inpatient · same-day
ward
Protected person; division
bed · monitor · IV · gown · admission · discharge · rounds · chart · vitals · call button
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- bleedingBlood loss from injury
- hemorrhageProfuse discharge of blood
- blood clotCoagulated mass in vessels
deep vein thrombosis · pulmonary embolism · fever · sepsis · pneumonia · nausea · vomiting · constipation · ileus · hematoma
- surgerysurgery, surgeon, surgeons, incision, scalpel
- test modifiersdiagnostic, preliminary, confirmatory, routine, stat
- faceliftfacelift, brow lift, neck lift, eye lift, skin tightening
- medical stagesacute phase, recovery phase, late stage, early-stage, advanced stage
- anesthesiaanesthesiologist, general anesthesia, local anesthesia, sedation, spinal anesthesia
postoperativepreoperative
Before a medical procedure
pre-op · presurgical · intraoperative · perioperative · pre-surgical
- postoperative careTreatment following surgical procedures
- postoperative recoveryHealing after surgical procedures
- postoperative painDiscomfort following surgery