PACU stands for Post Anesthesia Care Unit, which is a critical care unit in a hospital where patients are temporarily admitted after any surgical procedures. The PACU is under the direction of the Department of Anesthesiology and staffed by a team of nurses, anesthesiologists, and support services who are specifically trained to deal with the unique needs of the post-surgical patient.
When a patient is admitted to the PACU immediately after surgery, their vital signs are closely observed, pain management begins, and fluids are given. The nursing staff is skilled in recognizing and managing problems in patients after receiving anesthesia. The length of stay in the PACU varies depending on factors such as the type of surgery, the patients response to surgery and anesthesia, and medical history, but on average it is usually one to three hours.
In the PACU, a nurse will check the patients vital signs often, look at their dressings (bandages), regulate their intravenous fluids, and give them pain medication as needed. Patients are encouraged to tell the nurse if they are having pain, and the nurse will reassess their pain and continue to help manage it until they are as comfortable as possible. Visitation in the PACU will be specific to each facility, so patients should check with the nursing staff to find out if their family will be allowed to visit them.
When its time to leave the PACU, the nurse will give a report covering the details of the patients stay to the next nurse who will be taking care of them. Depending on the patients surgery and previous arrangements, they will either be taken to a room or back to Pre-Surgical Admissions for additional instructions prior to their discharge home.
