preoperative assessment

Last reviewed 01/2018

The aim of the anaesthetic assessment is the discovery and treatment of preventable risk factors:

  • history:
    • shortness of breath and level of exertion required
    • orthopnoea
    • angina pectoris
    • sleep apnoea or daytime somnolence
  • examination:
    • blood pressure
    • oedema, cardiomegaly - signs of heart failure
    • neck mobility
    • sites for venous access
  • initial investigations:
    • FBC
    • urea and electrolytes
    • LFT's
    • random blood glucose
    • dipstick urine
    • ECG
    • CXR
  • further investigations according to findings, e.g. echocardiography, exercise tolerance test