If the peri-operative patient pathway was right, what would it look like?

Background: Patients undergoing surgery deserve the best possible peri-operative outcomes. Each stage of the peri-operative patient journey offers opportunities to improve care delivery, with shorter lengths of stay, less complications, reduced costs and better value.

Methods: These opportunities were identified through narrative review of the literature, with consultation and consensus at the hidden pandemic (of postoperative complications) summit 2, July 2023 in Adelaide, Australia RESULTS: Before surgery: Some patients who receive timely alternative treatments may not need surgery at all.