Moffitt-Long Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

Overview

The Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) at UCSF Medical Center is located next to the Operating Room on the 4th floor of the adjacent Long and Moffitt Hospitals. Outpatients and hospitalized patients of all ages who require an anesthetic for a procedure and/or monitored anesthesia care are treated in the PACU. The 33-bed unit operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The PACU consists of two separate areas that work closely together. These are the pre-operative areas that care for patients directly before surgery and the post anesthesia care areas where patients recover directly after surgery or other procedure requiring anesthesia. The Children's Surgery Center within the PACU cares specifically for pediatric patients.

The goal of care in the PACU is to restore the patient's physical stability, prevent complications, and achieve the best possible outcomes following anesthesia.

Pre-Operative Areas

The patient's final preparations for surgery are completed in the pre-operative areas. These preparations include a patient interview, surgical shaves if needed, and other specific patient care needs. There are nine adult beds here for pre-operative care.

Post-Operative Areas

Patients recover from anesthesia in the post-operative areas which has 18 beds for adults. Patients are closely monitored for one hour or longer. Care includes ensuring proper breathing, taking of temperature, checking vital signs, and pain control. An anesthesiologist determines when a patient has recovered from the anesthesia and can be discharged from the PACU. Inpatients then are transferred to a hospital unit while outpatients can go home. Discharged outpatients are given detailed instructions on their continuing care and receive a follow-up telephone interview.

More information is available at PACU Nursing.