After the operation under general anesthesia a patient is brought in the recovery room. Depending on the intervention the patient is dismissed on the normal station or at home. The patient is released on the normal station or home depending on the intervention. In severe surgical operations especially in the reconstructive surgery the patient admission takes place under circumstances on an intensive care unit. The recovery room is monitored by appropriately trained physicians, may be on call and nursing staff. Despite all precautions, there can be following postoperative problems.

Nausea and vomiting

This applies to approximately 30% of patients on average. Following persons belong to the risk group:

• Women
• Tendency to nausea
• Susceptibility to motion sickness
• Non-smoking
• High doses of powerful painkillers

Countermeasures are the prevention of inhalation anesthetics, nitrous oxide and for administering propofol or antiemetics.

Hypothermia

Approximately half of all surgeries under general anesthesia about 1 h, it comes to a Subcooling of the body. Here, the probability increases with the duration of the operation. The following measures can be taken before, during, and after surgery to maintain body temperature.

• Warming infusions and rinsing solutions
• Heat records
• Warm-air blower
• Reduced administration of gas to mechanical ventilation

Delirium

Disorders of consciousness and the attention occur hours to days after the procedure. The duration and degree depends on the individual history, the age and the intervention. This can lead to following limitations:

• Disorders of consciousness
• Sleep disorders
• Memory problems
• Restricted sense of orientation
• Hyperactivity
• Attention deficit disorder