Perioperative mortality is mortality in relation to surgery, usually taken as death within two weeks of a surgical procedure. One of the vital steps in the decision to perform a surgical procedure is to weigh the benefits against the risks. Anaesthestists (and internists) employ various methods in assessing whether a patient is fit for surgery, and various statistical tools are available. Cardiovascular disease and pulmonary disease are both associated with poor outcome of surgery.

Complications during surgery, e.g. hemorrhage or perforation of organs may have lethal sequelae.

Local infection of the operative field is prevented by asepsis (using sterile materials), and prophylactic antibiotics are often given in abdominal surgery or patients known to have a heart defect or mechanical heart valves (that would be more prone to endocarditis).

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