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The past, present and future of the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) in Japan

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Abstract

The postanesthesia care unit (PACU), which is run and coordinated by anesthesiologists, delivers general medical supervision as well as close and constant care to patients who have just undergone a surgical procedure under anesthesia. Although PACU management has been considered a standard procedure in many developed countries since the 1940s, Japanese hospitals have tended to cease their management, and only 16.1% of hospitals in Japan currently have PACUs. In today’s efficiency-required atmosphere in Japan, we need to consider a better postoperative management method, including facilities similar to the PACU, to prevent serious adverse events and improve the postoperative outcomes and quality of life. Nevertheless, the way postoperative patients are treated and cared for, and the location in which they receive such attention, will likely need to be modified to fit the Japanese style due to Japan’s unique medical systems and traditions. Here, we describe the past, present and future of the PACU and postanesthesia care in Japan compared with other countries.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all survey respondents, as well as to Dr. Hidefumi Komura of Fujita Health University for their valuable support in the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8601, Japan

    Yoshiki Sento & Kazuya Sobue

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan

    Toshiyasu Suzuki

  3. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan

    Yasuyuki Suzuki

  4. Department of Anaesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, University of Melbourne, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia

    David A. Scott

Authors
  1. Yoshiki Sento
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  2. Toshiyasu Suzuki
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  3. Yasuyuki Suzuki
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  4. David A. Scott
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  5. Kazuya Sobue
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoshiki Sento.

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Sento, Y., Suzuki, T., Suzuki, Y. et al. The past, present and future of the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) in Japan. J Anesth 31, 601–607 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-017-2341-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-017-2341-3

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