2. OUTLINE
• INTRODUCTION
• SYSTEMS OF PREOPERATIVE ASESSMENT
• SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO PRE
OP EVALUATION
• PREOPERATIVE CHECKLIST
• TAKE HOME MESSAGE
3. INTRODUCTION
• Preoperative assessment process to ensure that
the proposed procedure remains appropriate –
that the presenting complaint still warrants an
operation and that the patient has made an
informed decision to proceed.
• Early identification of these patients allows time
to optimize their pre-existing medical illness and
plan perioperative management so as to reduce
risk.
4. • In addition, preoperative assessment offers an opportunity to perform routine
clerical tasks and also to advise patients about fasting, how to manage their
routine medications and what will happen on the day of surgery.
• Patients scheduled for elective procedures will generally attend a pre-operative
assessment 2-4 weeks before the date of their surgery.
6. SYSTEMIC
APPROACH TO PRE
OP EVALUATION
HISTORY TAKING
• A standard history should be taken. A set of fixed
questions are needed to determine 'fitness' for
surgery.
• Surgery specific symptoms ( including features
not present), onset , duration and exacerbating
and relieving factors should also be documented
7. • Cardiovascular history : High blood pressure , chest pains palpitations,
syncope, dyspnoea, and poor exercise tolerance
• Respiratory system history : History of smoking , productive cough,
wheeze, dyspnoea, or stridor present.
• Drug history: A full drug history - some medications require stopping or altering
prior to surgery
• Past Surgical and Anaesthetic History
8. EXAMINATION
General
• Anemia , jaundice, cyanosis, nutritional status , sources of infection
• Airway assesment
• The airway examination is completed by systematic inspection of the mouth opening,
thyromental distance, neck mobility, and the size of the tongue in relation to the oral cavity
• The patient is observed in frontal and profile views . The size of the tongue in relation to
the oral cavity can be graded by using the Mallampati classification.
9.
10. (REVISED CARDIAC INDEX LEE CRITERIA)
• Cardiovascular
• Pulse , blood pressure , bruits,
peripheral oedema
• Stress ECG, stress echocardiogram,
myocardial scintigraphy- IHD
• Patients with any suggestion of valvular
heart disease or poor left ventricular
function, an echocardiogram should be
done : EF < 30% is associated with
poor patient outcomes
11. Respiratory
• Respiratory rate and effort, chest expansion, and percussion note, breath sounds,
oxygen saturation
• Lung function test- assess individuals with known or suspected respiratory disease
Neurological
• Consciousness level, cognitive function, sensation, muscle power, tone and
reflexes
Renal disease
• Underlying conditions leading to chronic renal failure such as diabetes mellitus,
hypertension and IHD – should be stabilized before elective surgery
• Appropriate measures should be taken to treat acidosis , hypocalcemia and
hypercalcemia
13. PRE OPERATIVE
INVESTIGATIONS
• FBC
• Renal profile and electrolytes
• ECG
• CXR
• Clotting screen
• LFT, TFT
• Other indicated investigations; HbA1c,
glucose, urinalysis, ABG
14. ANTIBIOTICS
• Appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery
depends on the most likely pathogens
encountered during the surgical procedure.
• The expected wound classification of the
planned operative procedure is helpful for
deciding the appropriate antibiotic spectrum
and is considered before ordering or
administering any preoperative medication.
15.
16. • Prophylactic antibiotics are not generally required for clean (class I) cases except in the
setting of indwelling prosthesis placement or when bone is incised.
• Patients who undergo class II procedures benefit from a single dose of an appropriate
antibiotic administered before the skin incision.
• Contaminated (class III) cases require mechanical preparation or parenteral antibiotics with
aerobic and anaerobic activity.
• Dirty or infected cases often require the same antibiotic spectrum, which can be continued
into the postoperative period in the setting of ongoing infection or delayed treatment
• The appropriate antibiotic is chosen before surgery and administered within 60 minutes
before surgical incision
17. PRE OP FASTING
• Patients are advised not to take solids within 6
hours and clear fluids (isotonic drinks and
water) within 2 hours before anaesthesia to
avoid the risk of acid aspiration.
• If the surgery is delayed, oral intake of clear
fluids should be allowed until 2 hours before
surgery or intravenous fluids should be started,
especially in vulnerable groups of patients,e.g.
children, the elderly and diabetics.
• Patients can continue to take their specified
routine medications with sips of water in the
NBM period.
18. REVIEW OF
MEDICATION
• Patients taking cardiac drugs including beta
blockers and antiarrhythmics, anticonvulsants,
antihypertensives, or psychiatric drugs are
advised to take their medications with a sip of
water on the morning of surgery.
• Oral hypoglycaemics should be withold to avoid
hypoglycaemic episodes during preoperative
fasting.
• Drugs that are associated with an increased risk
for perioperative bleeding are withheld before
surgery.
• Clopidogrel (Plavix) is withheld for 7 to 10
days,
• Aspirin stopped 1 week before surgery.
• Warfarin usually stopped 5 days before
surgery
19. CONSENT
Consent should be both voluntary and informed.
The discussion between the surgeon and patient
should:
● give the patient the information required to make
a decision;
● be tailored to the individual patient;
● explain all reasonable treatment options;
● should be written and recorded on a form;
● the key points of the discussion should be
recorded in the case notes.
20. • For consent to be given, the patient must have capacity, which includes the ability
to understand the information provided, to retain and use the information to make
a decision and to indicate what that decision is.
• The surgeon should presume the patient has capacity for consent unless during
the process it is demonstrated that this is not the case. The person obtaining
consent must be appropriately experienced to do so.
• Consent from children below 18 should be obtain from the caretaker
21. ARRANGING AN
OPERATIVE ROOM
• The date, place and time of operation should be
matched with availability of personnel.
• Appropriate equipment and instruments should
be made available.
• The operating list should be distributed as early
as possible to all staff who are involved in
making the list run smoothly.
• Prioritise patients, e.g. children and diabetic
patients should be placed at the beginning of
the list; life- and limb-threatening surgery should
take priority; cancer patients need to be treated
early.
22. TAKE HOME MESSAGE
Assess the risks and
benefits of the
proposed surgery
1
Identify any condition
that may require
intervention prior to
admission and surgery
and take appropriate
actions
2
Perform necessary
investigation and
review the results
3
Obtain informed
consent and prepare
pre op documentation
4
23. SOURCES
• Bailey and Love’s Short Practice of
Surgery 27th Edition
• Sabiston Textbook of Surgery 20th
Edition
A brief history of why the patient first attended and what procedure they have subsequently been scheduled for. One should also confirm the side on which the procedure will be performed (if applicable)
Cardiovascular disease, including hypertension; exercise tolerance is a useful indicator of cardiovascular fitness and, particularly for patients undergoing major surgery, can help predict their risk of post-operative complications and level of care needed post-operatively. Screening questions may elucidate undiagnosed disease and prompt further investigation, e.g. the presence of exertional chest pain, syncopal episodes, or orthopnoea (sensation of breathlesness in the recumbent position relieved by sitting or standing)
Respiratory disease, as adequate oxygenation and ventilation is essential in reducing the risk of acute ischaemic events in the peri-operative period. Questions including whether the patient is able to lie flat for a prolonged period or has a chronic cough are key as these may preclude spinal anaesthesia; also screen for symptoms and signs of obstructive sleep apnoea, if the patient has any risk factors . Increasing severity of symptoms generally indicates worsening of the condition.
A full drug history is required, as some medications require stopping or altering prior to surgery EXAMPLE. Ask about any known allergies, both drug and non-drug allergies
Past Surgical History:
Has the patient had any previous operations? If so, what, when, and why? If the patient is having a repeat procedure, this can significantly change both the surgical time and ease of operation, and hence influence the anaesthetic technique used
Past Anaesthetic History
Has the patient had anaesthesia before? If so, for what operation and what type of anaesthesia? Were there any problems? Did the patient experience any post operative nausea and vomiting?
The Mallampati examination is performed with the patient sitting and the head in a neutral position, the mouth opened as wide as possible, and the tongue protruded maximally. The observer views the oral and pharyngeal structures that are evident. In general, patients in whom the uvula, tonsillar pillars, and soft palate are visible (class I) are easy to mask ventilate and intubate. Patients in whom only the hard palate is visible, a class IV airway, have a higher likelihood of being difficult to mask ventilate and intubate. However, the Mallampati classification is only one component of the airway examination and must be used in conjunction with other aspects of the airway examination and the patient’s history to provide a complete airway assessment.
The airway examination is completed by systematic inspection of the mouth opening, thyromental distance, neck mobility, and the size of the tongue in relation to the oral cavity
The patient is observed in frontal and profile views . The size of the tongue in relation to the oral cavity can be graded by using the Mallampati classification. The Mallampati examination is performed with the patient sitting and the head in a neutral position, the mouth opened as wide as possible, and the tongue protruded maximally. The observer views the oral and pharyngeal structures that are evident. In general, patients in whom the uvula, tonsillar pillars, and soft palate are visible (class I) are easy to mask ventilate and intubate. Patients in whom only the hard palate is visible, a class IV airway, have a higher likelihood of being difficult to mask ventilate and intubate. However, the Mallampati classification is only one component of the airway examination and must be used in conjunction with other aspects of the airway examination and the patient’s history to provide a complete airway assessment.
Systemic approach to pre op evaluation
Cardiovascular
It is important to identify the patients who have a high perioperative risk of major adverse
cardiovascular events (MACE) including myocardial infarction (MI), and make appropriate
arrangements to reduce this risk. Patients at high risk are those with ischaemic heart disease (IHD),
congestive cardiac failure (CCF), arrhythmias, severe peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular
disease or significant renal impairment, especially if they are undergoing major intra-abdominal or
intra-thoracic surgery.
In patients with ischaemic heart disease the cardiac and coronary reserve can be evaluated using a
stress test (stress ECG, stress echocardiogram, myocardial scintigraphy). In patients with any
suggestion of valvular heart disease or poor left ventricular function, an echocardiogram should be
obtaine; an ejection fraction of less than 30% is associated with poor patient outcomes.
Pulmonary
Postoperative respiratory complications, such as pneumonia, are a major cause of morbidity and
mortality especially after major abdominal and thoracic surgery. A patient’s current respiratory status
should be compared with their ‘normal state’. A preoperative chest radiograph or scan is useful in a
patient with known emphysematous bullae, pulmonary cancer, metastasis or effusions. Patients on
oral steroid treatment, oxygen therapy or who have a forced expiratory volume in the first second
(FEV1) less than 30% of predicted value (for age, weight and height), have severe disease are at risk
of pneumonia and respiratory failure in the postoperative period.
Neurological
In patients with a history of stroke, pre-existing neurological deficit should be recorded. These patients may be on anti-platelet or anticoagulant
Renal disease
Underlying conditions leading to chronic renal failure such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and
ischaemic heart disease, should be stabilised before elective surgery. Appropriate measures should be
taken to treat acidosis, hypocalcaemia and hyperkalaemia of greater than 6 mmol/L. Arrangements
should be made to continue peritoneal or haemodialysis until a few hours before surgery. After the
final dialysis before surgery, a blood sample should be sent for FBC and U&Es.
In the acute setting, patients who have a stable volume status can undergo surgery without
preoperative dialysis, provided that no other indication exists for emergency dialysis
Diabetic patients
Diabetes and associated cardiovascular and renal complications should be controlled to as near normal
level as possible before a surgery. Any history of hyper- and hypoglycaemic episodes, and hospital
admissions, should be noted. HbA1c levels should be checked. For elective surgery, HBA1c of <69
mmol/mol is recommended. Lipid-lowering medication should be started in patients who are in a high
risk group for cardiovascular complications of diabetes. If the operation is in the morning, patient is
advised to omit the morning dose of medication and breakfast. Though tight control of blood sugar is
not needed, the patient’s blood sugar levels should be checked 2 hourly. For those on the afternoon
list, breakfast can be given with half their regular dose of intermediate-acting insulin (or full dose oral
antidiabetic agents) and then managed with regular blood sugar checks 2hourly. An intravenous
insulin sliding scale should be started for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients undergoing
major surgery, or if blood sugar is difficult to control for other reasons.