What can practitioners do to preoperatively screen for signs that their patients may have issues with post operative delirium? How do we get patients fit for surgery, particularly as regards delirium? Can you build up mental resilience in the run up to an operation, do suggestions that puzzles and mental activity such as sudoku and a good crossword help have any evidence behind them? This piece features Monty Mythen and Desiree Chappell in conversation with Dan Cole, professor of clinical anesthesiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles and former president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).