Many of the problems of the first postoperative week - such as heart attacks, pneumonia, clots in the legs and postoperative confusion - can be reduced by proper care in the critical first hour or two following surgery. However, little has been written about managing patients immediately after surgery, and many hospitals still do not have formally organized recovery rooms. This book deals with all aspects of the recovery room - starting with the basics of how to establish, equip, staff and administer this acute care unit. There is guidance on how to recognize and manage emergencies, and practical advice on dealing with every day problems, such as pain control, nausea and vomiting and fluid balance. Much of the information here is either entirely new, or scattered through the medical literature. No other book covers every aspect of the recovery room in such a useful and readable form. Whilst it remains a practical "hands-on" manual, this second edition has been almost entirely rewritten, with a stronger emphasis on practical physiology and pharmacology. This will not only enable trainees and junior staff to work out the solutions to many problems from basic principles, but will also make this new edition invaluable as a basic text for training courses in perioperative medicine and nursing.