7. Moving into the Recovery Area (PACU - Post Anaesthetic Care Unit)

The third phase of the patient's journey through theatres is the Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit or Recovery area.  Once the operation is complete, the patient will be transferred through to the area where an anaesthetic and scrub handover will be given. 

Anaesthetic handover: The anaesthetist should explain what method of anaesthesia, eg epidural, spinal anaesthetic etc. the patient has had, what airway has been used to support he patient and what other medications and fluids have been administered in the operation.

Scrub handover: The scrub practitioner will handover to the recovery practitioner discussing other elements of the operation eg. the surgical procedure undertaken, type of wound closure used, eg sutures, glue, staples etc and any specific issues pertaining to that operation.

The recovery practitioner can be a registered nurse or a registered Operating Department Practitioner.  These practitioners specialise in managing the airway, A-E assessment, managing the person's pain and stabilisation of the patient.

Once the patient is able to maintain their own airway and their vital signs are stable, they can be discharged from the recovery room.  This can take from 30 mins to several hours to achieve.