PACU Setup and Requirements

Synopsis

Delivering care to a post-operative patient in a developing country, with different practice environments than we are used to, can provide unique challenges. A post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), staffed by specially trained and educated nurses, is well recognized as crucial in optimizing patient outcomes. A PACU is commonplace in most of the developed countries in the world today, but that is not always the case in developing countries, where there are challenging issues of limited knowledge, resources, and support services. The purpose of this chapter is to provide information on the requirements and setup of a PACU that will be helpful for those new to establishing and setting up a safe PACU environment. Topics include the rationale and requirements for nursing and equipment that are vital in the safe care of post-operative patients.