Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 August 2022
Surgery represents a physiologic challenge to even healthy patients - and many patients enter surgery with risk-intensifying co-morbidities. As a result, medical emergencies can occur during any surgery. Recognition and early management of these crises is crucial. Thus, this chapter seeks to provide an overview of serious medical emergencies that may arise in the preoperative period, ranging from anaphylaxis to diabetic ketoacidosis. To provide context for investigations and treatment, a brief outline of the relevant pathophysiology and/or epidemiology accompanies each problem. Building upon that foundation, this chapter describes the rudiments of recognising the emergencies and managing them appropriately. It is not the goal of the chapter to address the included issues comprehensively but to impart basic, essential knowledge of medical emergencies that will help the reader to participate in the provision of safe care in the operative setting.
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