Planning the Surgery Road Trip: What perioperative medicine is really about
A road trip that changed how I explain surgery
The idea for this analogy came to me during a real road trip.
I was preparing for a long drive from Sydney to Adelaide, so before setting off I took my car to the mechanic. I had gone in for a very specific reason — I wanted them to check the oil gauge (yes… since then I’ve learned how to check it myself!).
But the mechanic did something thoughtful.
Instead of just looking at the oil gauge, they checked the whole car. They looked at the tyres, fluids, engine components, and other systems. As they were finishing up, they mentioned that the brake pads were wearing down and might not be ideal for a long road trip.
Now yes, mechanics are paid to do this. But they were incredibly busy that day and still took the time to look beyond the one thing I had asked about.
As I drove away, I realised how lucky I was. If I had started that journey across Australia with worn brake pads, things could have gone very wrong somewhere along the road.
And in that moment it struck me how similar that experience was to the work we try to do in perioperative medicine.
Surgery is a journey for the body
When patients are referred for surgery, there is usually a clear problem that needs attention.
A painful joint. A diseased section of bowel. Something that is affecting a person’s health or quality of life.
Surgeons are experts in treating these problems. Their work is essential in helping patients move forward when surgery is the right step.
But surgery is more than a procedure. It is also a physiological journey for the body. And just like preparing for a long road trip, the question is not only whether the destination is right, but also whether the vehicle is ready for the journey.
Thinking about the body like a car
Sometimes I explain this to patients using a simple analogy. If the body were a car preparing for a long drive, different systems play different roles.
Car system > Body system
Engine > Heart
Brakes > Kidneys
Tyres > Strength, mobility and physical reserve
Fuel > Anaesthesia
Mechanics and engineers > The healthcare team
The analogy isn’t meant to suggest that the body is a machine. But it does help illustrate something important: surgery asks the whole body to work together. The stronger and more prepared the system is, the smoother the journey tends to be.
Why preparation matters
Anyone who has taken a long road trip knows that things don’t always go exactly as planned.
Sometimes tyres wear out sooner than expected. Sometimes engines overheat. Sometimes unexpected stops are needed along the way.
In healthcare, complications can occur in similar ways.
Modern medicine has remarkable rescue systems — intensive care teams, specialist clinicians, and advanced treatments that can support patients when things become challenging.
But everyone agrees on the same goal: a safe journey whenever possible. Which is why preparation and thoughtful planning matter before surgery begins.
A team effort
Preparing someone for surgery is very much a team effort. Surgeons bring their expertise in treating the condition requiring surgery. Anaesthetists manage the physiological support needed during the operation. Perioperative physicians step back to look at the whole picture: helping assess risk, optimise health, and support recovery. Different perspectives, working together toward the same goal: helping the patient travel safely through the journey of surgery.
Like a Formula One team
Another way I sometimes describe this is by thinking about Formula One racing.
An F1 driver may be the one behind the wheel, but success never belongs to one person alone. There are engineers analysing the car. Mechanics preparing it. Strategists studying the track. Pit crews ready when adjustments are needed.
Sometimes the race is fast. Sometimes the conditions change. But the beauty of it all is the team working together. Healthcare is very similar. Different clinicians bring different expertise, but the goal is shared: to help the patient, the driver, travel safely through the journey.
And at the end of the race, the driver goes home with the real prize: the best possible outcome. No crashes.
Planning the road trip together
Healthcare decisions are rarely a straight highway.
They are more like a road trip. There may be different routes, unexpected turns, and moments to pause and reassess.
Perioperative medicine is about helping patients plan that road trip carefully: understanding the destination, preparing the vehicle, and making sure the right team is travelling alongside them. Because no one should feel like they are being sent onto a long road without directions. Patients deserve thoughtful conversations, careful planning, and a team helping them navigate the journey ahead.
