CHICAGO – Perioperative medicine is emerging as a transformative, comprehensive, system-wide approach to patient care before, during, and after surgery – that reduces complication rates and hospital days, provides better health outcomes, and improves health system performance, according to a special article in the Online First edition of Anesthesiology , the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
"Perioperative medicine describes a more organized and coordinated process for surgery, with multiple specialties working together to increase efficiency and improve patient safety," said Maxime Cannesson, M.D., member of the writing workgroup and chair of ASA's Center for Perioperative Medicine. "It envisions surgical care as a collaborative approach among surgeons, anesthesiologists, primary care physicians, nurses, and other specialists – all working together to manage complex patients at every step of the surgical journey."
Perioperative medicine entails surgical review and risk assessment, steps to optimize the patient's condition before surgery, comprehensive care in the operating room and during recovery, and providing ongoing patient care and follow-up.
Emphasizing teamwork, leadership, communication, and well-being, the perioperative medicine approach prioritizes quality of life, function, and experience – not just technical success. "For patients and families, this translates into earlier, more meaningful preparation for surgery, fewer cancellations and delays, clearer communication among the healthcare team, and reduced complications – all of which directly affect recovery, costs, and peace of mind," said Thomas R. Vetter, M.D., corresponding author to the journal article and member of ASA's Center for Perioperative Medicine. "By preparing patients to be healthier before surgery, perioperative medicine provides an opportunity to improve long-term health."
The special article provides updates and consensus on the field from the 2024 and 2025 perioperative medicine stakeholder summits hosted by the ASA's Center for Perioperative Medicine (CPMed). The article incorporates real‑world perspectives from the range of professionals involved in surgical care, both from the national and international medical communities.
The special article situates perioperative medicine within the ongoing pressures of the healthcare system, including workforce shortages, staff burnout, and accountability for patient outcomes. It highlights how perioperative medicine is a practical solution to emerging episode based and value-based payment models, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM).
Assessing the economic impact of perioperative medicine interventions will be a critical step in implementing value-based surgical care. "Health systems will benefit from improvement in care processes and better patient‑reported outcomes," said Dr. Cannesson. "These improvements make perioperative medicine a system‑level investment: an institutional function requiring governance, metrics, and financial alignment."
Building on their discussions, the CPMed perioperative medicine summit participants developed a "forward-looking roadmap" to define the future of perioperative care over the coming decade. Successful efforts will require alignment of four integrated pillars: clinical care, education, research, and leadership. "Progress in one area alone won't be enough," said Dr. Cannesson. "Lasting improvement will require simultaneous development of workforce training, standardized outcomes research, and effective leadership structures to support multidisciplinary teams."
Participants in this journal article included representatives from 14 professional societies and organizations: ASA's Center for Perioperative Medicine, American College of Perioperative Medicine, Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, American Society for Enhanced Recovery and Perioperative Medicine, Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery USA, European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine, International Anesthesia Research Society, PeriOperative Quality Initiative, Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement, Veterans Health Administration, and World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 60,000 members organized to advance the medical practice of anesthesiology and secure its future. ASA is committed to ensuring anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of all patients before, during, and after surgery. ASA members also lead the care of critically ill patients in intensive care units, as well as treat pain in both acute and chronic settings.
