In the most simple sense, this means regaining possession or control of something. In the way the word is used in the medical world it has specific meanings according to the circumstances.

Following surgery the patient will go first to the Recovery Room where she will be under the care of specially qualified nurses, and probably supervised by the anesthesiologist. If there has been a general anesthetic this can be the most dangerous period for the patient who is thought to be safe “breathing on her own” but in fact is still less than semi-conscious and stops breathing.

There is then what is called the “recovery time” after the procedure. The patient will want to know how long it will be before she can return to her pre-operative activities.  This can be an important issue in selecting the date for the surgery, getting the help of relations to look after children, taking time away from work, etc. The surgeon is not God, he cannot foretell the future with certainty, but based on his experience and giving full consideration to the known facts (the nature of the patient, the operation, the tasks to return to) he should give an honest and not an over-optimistic appraisal. Patients are pleased with themselves if they “recover” more quickly than predicted; they are not pleased with their surgeon if the opposite occurs.

Recovery may also be the word used meaning “retrieval” if an implanted device needs to be removed or exchanged, such as a pacemaker. It is also used in the sense of “covering again” when an area of skin graft has broken down and the deeper tissues need further grafts to cover them.

A wonderful thing is the English language!