Updated June 11, 2014.

Definition: Perioperative is the time period that includes the three major phases of surgery. The initial phase, the preoperative phase, lasts from the decision to have surgery until the beginning of surgery. The second phase is the surgery itself. The final phase, the postoperative period, is the time after surgery until recovery is complete.

Perioperative, including all three phases, can last for days, weeks or months.

Also Known As: periop, perioperatively, peri op,

Alternate Spellings: peri operative,

Common Misspellings: perryoperative, perryop, peryoperative, peryop, peryoperatively,

Examples: The doctor explained that the perioperative period would last approximately eight weeks long.