Post anesthesia care unit

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"PACU" redirects here. For the fish, see Pacu (fish).

A post anesthesia care unit, often abbreviated PACU, is a vital part of hospitals, ambulatory care centers, and other medical facilities. It is an area designed to provide care for patients recovering from anesthesia, whether it be general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia, or local anesthesia. The PACU staff, generally comprised of highly trained nurses, monitor vital signs and treat patients in whatever manner is required. A commonly treated symptom in the PACU is postoperative nausea. Occasionally, serious life threatening complications, such as laryngospasm, can arise post-anesthesia. Unless complications occur, most patients will only stay in the PACU for a few hours, before returning home or to another department of the hospital.