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Medication management in the perioperative period is a critical part of the decision-making prior to surgery. While randomized trial levels of evidence in this space are scant, retrospective data and expert consensus provide practical guidance for these decisions. Clinicians must understand risks and benefits of withholding versus continuing medications, stop medications based on pharmacokinetics and effect on primary disease and surgical risk, and resume medications after surgery in a timely manner. Knowing alternate routes of medication administration can help keep chronic disease processes stable through surgery., Competing Interests: Disclosure Dr P. Patel has no disclosures of interest. Dr C. Whinney receives compensation from UpToDate as a coauthor on the topic, “Perioperative Medication Management”, (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The previous In the Clinic that addressed preoperative evaluation for noncardiac surgery was published in December 2016. This update reaffirms much of the information in the previous version and provides new information that has accumulated since then. The goal of preoperative assessment is to identify the risk for postoperative complications so health care teams can more fully understand how to implement strategies to mitigate risks before and after the operation.

In this Pro-Con commentary article, we discuss the models, value propositions, and opportunities of preoperative clinics run by anesthesiologists versus hospitalists and their role in perioperative care. The medical and anesthesia evaluation before surgery has pivoted from the model of "clearance" to the model of risk assessment, preparation, and optimization of medical and psychosocial risk factors. Assessment of these risk factors, optimization, and care coordination in the preoperative period has expanded the roles of anesthesiologists and hospitalists as members of the perioperative care team. There is ongoing debate regarding which model of preoperative assessment provides the most optimal preparation for the patient undergoing surgery. This article hopes to shed light on this debate with the data and perspectives on these care models., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 International Anesthesia Research Society.)

SARS-CoV-2-infected inpatients who are admitted to a noncritical care medical ward require a standardized approach that is based on evidence if available, and effective supportive and respiratory care. Outcomes are better when patients receive standardized care, in special COVID-19 wards in the hospital, from clinical teams with expertise. Available evidence and guidelines should be continuously appraised and integrated into clinical protocols for all domains of treatment, including isolation, and personal protective measures, pharmacologic therapy, and transitions of care. Inpatient pharmacologic therapy at this time consists primarily of dexamethasone and remdesivir, along with thromboprophylaxis, given the coagulopathy associated with COVID-19. This article summarizes current practices in our organization., (Copyright © 2020 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.)

Background: Hospitalists have long been involved in optimizing perioperative care for medically complex patients. In 2015, the Society of Hospital Medicine organized the Perioperative Care Work Group to summarize this experience and to develop a framework for providing optimal perioperative care., Methods: The work group, which consisted of perioperative care experts from institutions throughout the United States, reviewed current hospitalist-based perioperative care programs, compiled key issues in each perioperative phase, and developed a framework to highlight essential elements to be considered. The framework was reviewed and approved by the board of the Society of Hospital Medicine., Results: The Perioperative Care Matrix for Inpatient Surgeries was developed. This matrix characterizes perioperative phases, coordination, and metrics of success. Additionally, concerns and potential risks were tabulated. Key questions regarding program effectiveness were drafted, and examples of models of care were provided., Conclusions: The Perioperative Care Matrix for Inpatient Surgeries provides an essential collaborative framework hospitalists can use to develop and continually improve perioperative care programs. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2017;12:277-282., (© 2017 Society of Hospital Medicine)

Intensive care unit (ICU) resources are scarce, yet demand is increasing at a rapid rate. Optimizing throughput efficiency while balancing patient safety and quality of care is of utmost importance during times of high ICU utilization. Continuous improvement methodology was used to develop a multidisciplinary workflow to improve throughput in the ICU while maintaining a high quality of care and minimizing adverse outcomes. The research team was able to decrease ICU occupancy and therefore ICU length of stay by implementing this process without increasing mortality or readmissions to the ICU. By improving throughput efficiency, more patients were able to be provided with care in the ICU., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

An extensive medication history, including the use of nonprescription agents and herbal products, is the foundation of effective perioperative medication management. Decisions about stopping or continuing medications perioperatively should be based on withdrawal potential, the potential for disease progression if therapy is interrupted, the potential for drug interactions with anesthesia, and the patient's short-term quality of life. In general, medications with withdrawal potential should be continued perioperatively, nonessential medications that increase surgical risk should be discontinued before surgery, and clinical judgment should be exercised in other cases.