The recovery area or Post- Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) is a key time for the patient as they are stepped down from the operating theatres in preparation for being returned to the postoperative surgical ward.

Good communication is required to handover the relevant details of the patient, including their medical history as well as the details of the anaesthetic. The patients require full monitoring and observation. They require management of the airway, oxygen therapy, together and assessment and management of the cardiovascular system (pulse and blood pressure), with care of intravenous infusion and monitoring for blood loss (which may concealed e.g. intrabdominal). Other areas of attention are the management of hypothermia, shivering, and nausea and vomiting.

Prior to transfer back to the ward, patient should be awake and responds appropriately to commands, cardiorespiratory stability (respiratory rate, SpO2, pulse and blood pressure) . They should have both their pain control and PONV controlled, and normothermic. Finally all documentation should be complete include appropriate prescriptions for analgesics, antiemetics, IV fluids, oxygen thromboprophylaxis and antibiotics