[Preoperative evaluation, preparation and outcome prediction: preface and comments]

In the practice of anesthesia for the patients undergoing surgery, it is required for anesthesiologists to improve the quality of perioperative management, decrease adverse events, and help the patients return to daily life as soon as possible. The conditions crucial in realizing this purpose include risk assessment, preparation of measures and implementation of effective perioperative management. Furthermore, it is also necessary to obtain informed consent based on reliable outcome prediction. In this special issue, essential points for preoperative evaluation will be presented on the basis of up-to-date information.