Postoperative Period: Definition, Duration & Physician Responsibilities

The postoperative period begins at surgery end and extends through the global surgical package (typically 0, 10, or 90 days per CPT).

Physician Duties

• Wound assessment, infection surveillance
• Pain management, drain/tube removal
• Fluid/electrolyte, nutrition monitoring
• Rehabilitation orders (PT/OT)
• Complication management (bleeding, ileus, DVT prophylaxis)
• Discharge planning, follow-up scheduling

Services within global period are bundled; unrelated E/M requires modifier 24.