preoperative
adjective
pre·op·er·a·tive
(ˌ)prē-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv 
-pə-ˌrā-
1
: occurring before a surgical operation
preoperative care
2
: having not yet undergone a surgical operation
preoperatively
adverb
Examples of preoperative in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People who had acupuncture before gallbladder surgery or hernia repair had less preoperative anxiety than those who took the anti-anxiety medication Midazolam, a type of benzodiazepine.5
In general, acupuncture has other benefits.
—
Stephanie Booth, Health, 1 Dec. 2023
This confluence of expertise forms a cohesive network that provides unwavering support from the preoperative stage through to postoperative care.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 20 June 2023
The 57,000-square-foot clinic at the CARTI campus in west Little Rock comes with eight private rooms, 12 recovery rooms, 14 preoperative and postoperative rooms, according to a news release, as well as six large operating rooms equipped with minimally invasive surgical robots.
—Jason Batacao, Arkansas Online, 9 June 2023
The researchers also showed that preoperative chemotherapy delivered directly into an artery could convert an inoperable tumor into an operable one.
—David J. Waters, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015
Early efforts subjected patients to full-body preoperative blasts of X-ray radiation at borderline-lethal doses.
—WIRED, 5 Jan. 2023
Just like most plastic surgeries, there are standard preoperative procedures to follow that you will be guided through pre-surgery.
—Emily Rekstis, Allure, 4 Oct. 2022
Among them are newborn preoperative patients and children after cardiac surgery, many of whom are in serious condition.
—Time, 28 Feb. 2022
In the March case, records cited by the board said the patient had major abdominal and back surgery — and the preoperative forms don't document consent or notice.
—Brian Witte, ajc, 29 Oct. 2021
Stephanie Booth, Health, 1 Dec. 2023
This confluence of expertise forms a cohesive network that provides unwavering support from the preoperative stage through to postoperative care.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 20 June 2023
The 57,000-square-foot clinic at the CARTI campus in west Little Rock comes with eight private rooms, 12 recovery rooms, 14 preoperative and postoperative rooms, according to a news release, as well as six large operating rooms equipped with minimally invasive surgical robots.
—Jason Batacao, Arkansas Online, 9 June 2023
The researchers also showed that preoperative chemotherapy delivered directly into an artery could convert an inoperable tumor into an operable one.
—David J. Waters, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015
Early efforts subjected patients to full-body preoperative blasts of X-ray radiation at borderline-lethal doses.
—WIRED, 5 Jan. 2023
Just like most plastic surgeries, there are standard preoperative procedures to follow that you will be guided through pre-surgery.
—Emily Rekstis, Allure, 4 Oct. 2022
Among them are newborn preoperative patients and children after cardiac surgery, many of whom are in serious condition.
—Time, 28 Feb. 2022
In the March case, records cited by the board said the patient had major abdominal and back surgery — and the preoperative forms don't document consent or notice.
—Brian Witte, ajc, 29 Oct. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preoperative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near preoperative
Cite this Entry
“Preoperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preoperative. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
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Medical Definition
preoperative
adjective
pre·op·er·a·tive
(ˈ)prē-ˈäp-(ə-)rət-iv, -ˈäp-ə-ˌrāt-
1
: occurring, performed, or administered before and usually close to a surgical operation
preoperative care
preoperative medication
2
: having not yet undergone a surgical operation
preoperative patients
preoperatively
adverb
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