PREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT

Introduction

The preoperative evaluation of patients is intended to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with surgery and anaesthesia. The relative benefits of the proposed operation need to be balanced against the possible adverse effects that may result from anaesthesia and surgery. The severity of any underlying medical conditions and their impact on physiological reserve must be assessed. Optimisation of the management of any underlying medical condition is undertaken. It is necessary to take a detailed history, examine the patient and obtain appropriate laboratory investigations to achieve these goals. A plan for anaesthesia, postoperative care and pain relief can then be constructed and this generally involves:

• informing patient of the proposed procedure;

• obtaining informed consent for proposed procedure, including any risks from not having the procedure;

• assessing pre-existing conditions and estimation of their impact on physiological reserve;

• planning the type of anaesthesia guided by the above information and patient preferences;

• planning postoperative management of any pre-existing conditions;

• planning analgesia.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) classification has found wide acceptance as a broad-based system for classifying the general fitness of patients for surgery and their predicted mortality (Table 1.1).

Factors increasing the operative risk include:

• age >70 years;

• surgery >3 h duration;

• emergency versus elective operation;

• presence of associated illnesses (especially uncontrolled diabetes or heart failure);

• physiological reserve impaired;

• obesity, malnutrition, immunosuppression and cancer;

• radiotherapy, steroid use.