Preoperative Assessment

SERVICES

Preoperative Assessment

A preoperative assessment provides an opportunity to identify co-morbidities that could result in patient difficulties during the anaesthetic, surgical or postoperative periods. Patients scheduled for elective operations will often get a preoperative evaluation 2-4 weeks prior to their surgery date. Although anaesthesia and surgical treatments should be tailored to each patient, various preoperative protocols and routines are employed in practice.

Types of preoperative assessments

General Examination - to determine if there is any underlying undetected pathology.

Blood Tests

  • Full Blood Count (FBC) - to determine if there is any anaemia or thrombocytopenia.
  • Urea and Electrolytes - to determine baseline renal function in order to guide fluid management and medication decisions for both anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia.
  • Liver Function Tests (LFT) - also known as a liver panel, are blood tests that assess the liver's ability to produce several enzymes, proteins, and other chemicals.
  • Condition Specific Blood Tests - Several disorders or diseases may necessitate particular blood tests such as HbA1C or thyroid function testing.
  • Clotting Screen - Coagulation tests assess your blood's ability to clot as well as the time it takes for it to clot.
  • Group and Save - The sample processing that determines the patient's blood group and screens for any unusual antibodies is known as Group and Save.

Cardiac Investigations

  • Individuals with a history of cardiovascular illness or those undergoing major surgery are frequently given an electrocardiogram (ECG).
  • Echocardiography (ECHO) is extremely valuable for anaesthetists since it allows medical staff to avoid risk and tailor the patient's intra-operative care.
  • Myocardial perfusion scans are frequently conducted on patients with untreated ischemic heart disease or symptoms of angina.

Respiratory Investigations

  • Spirometry may help measure the current baseline and predict postoperative pulmonary problems in patients with a chronic lung ailment, such as COPD.
  • Plain film chest radiographs (CXR) are less typically employed as a preoperative imaging tool and should only be used when essential.

Urinalysis - A urinalysis is a urine examination. It is used to diagnose and treat various illnesses, including urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes.

MRSA Swabs - Methicillin-resistant MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a staph infection that is difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance. A nurse will swab your skin with a cotton bud to check for MRSA. Swabs can be obtained from various locations, including the nose, throat, armpits, groin, and any injured skin.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing is a form of stress test or exercise test that assesses your ability to exercise. It is done to determine if the body's response to exercise is normal or abnormal. Data on the heart and lungs is gathered.

Postoperative Medical Support In Hospital

After undergoing a surgical procedure, you usually receive postoperative care. Depending on your medical history and the procedure you had, you will need different types of postoperative care. Ordinary postoperative care from a physician entail optimising the underlying medical condition to aid recovery from surgery.

Dr Rammego provides in-hospital postoperative medical support.

FAQ

Q: How long does a preoperative assessment take?

Depending on the tests you need, your session will last anywhere from one to three hours.

Q: Is a preoperative assessment painful?

The procedures are not typically painful, but some may be more uncomfortable than others.

Q: What is preoperative self-care?

Preoperative self-care entails nutritious and healthy diet, exercise, kicking bad habits like smoking and alcohol drinking. Asking questions and reading about procedure. Family and friends’ support.

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