postoperative
Meaning of postoperative: Postoperative means occurring after a surgical operation.
Definition of postoperative
Postoperative describes the period, care, findings, symptoms, or complications that occur after surgery. The postoperative period begins when the procedure has ended, but its duration depends on context and may include immediate recovery, a hospital stay, and later follow-up. Postoperative care can include monitoring, pain control, wound care, mobility, and complication prevention.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The postoperative plan included pain control, early walking, and incision care.
Good to know
A postoperative finding is not necessarily caused by the operation; the term primarily identifies timing. Clinicians assess whether a finding is expected, unrelated, or a possible complication.
Word origin
Where “postoperative” comes from
Formed from post-, meaning “after,” and operative, meaning “relating to surgery.”