adjective

perioperative

/ˌperɪˈɒpərətɪv/ · say it: per·ee·AHP·uh·uh·tiv

relating to the period around a surgical operation

In Medicine & Health

In more detail

1. (adjective) relating to the period immediately before, during, and after a surgical operation

Examples

1. The patient received perioperative antibiotics to prevent infection.

How to use perioperative

Perioperative is a technical medical term used by healthcare professionals to refer to the comprehensive phase surrounding surgery, encompassing preoperative preparation, the surgical procedure itself, and postoperative recovery. It emphasizes the interconnected nature of these three stages rather than treating them as separate phases.

Common phrases

perioperative care
perioperative management
perioperative period
perioperative complications
perioperative monitoring
perioperative risk

Synonyms

perisurgical · intraoperative · perioperatory

Word family

perioperatively (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse perioperative with intraoperative (during surgery only) or use it too narrowly to mean only the surgical procedure itself, forgetting that it explicitly includes the before and after periods.

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