Perioperative complications commonly include oxygenation and ventilation abnormalities. The best outcome is associated with prevention. Ventilation impairment may be due to either neurologic compromise such as cervical intervertebral disk disease or severe parenchymal disease, while oxygenation failure may result from either the underlying disease or severe complications such as aspiration pneumonia, volume overload, pulmonary thromboembolism, or acute respiratory distress syndrome. This article reviews the approach to the patient with perioperative complications and provides recommendations on the management approach.