PRE-OP ASSESSMENT Flashcards
What are examples of minor, intermediate and major surgery grades?
Minor - excising a skin lesion or draining a breast abscess
Intermediate - repair of inguinal hernia, excising varicose veins, tonsillectomy, knee arthroscopy
Major - total abdominal hysterectomy, thyroidectomy, total joint replacement, colonic resection
What is the ASA grading system?
The American Society of Anaesthesiologists classification of physical health - its a subjective assessment of the patient’s overall health
What is ASA1?
Normal healthy pt whos a non-smoker and a minimal alcohol drinker at most
What is ASA 2?
Pt with mild systemic disease e.g. smoker, social alcohol drinker, pregnancy, BMI 30-40, well controlled DM/hypertension, mild lung disease
What is ASA 3?
Pt with severe systemic disease e.g. poorly controlled DM, COPD, BMI >40, alcohol abuse, ESRD, MI >3 months ago
What is ASA 4?
Pt with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life e.g. recent MI, cerebrovascular accident, cardiac ischaemia, sespsis, ESRD, DIC
What is ASA 5?
A moribund pt who is not expected to survive without the operation e.g. ruptured AAA, massive trauma, ischaemic bowel with AF, intracranial bleed with mass effect
What is ASA 6?
A brain-dead pt whose organs are being removed for donor purposes
When is ‘E’ used in the ASA grading system?
When its an emergency surgery
When are pre-op investigations usually done?
2-4 weeks before an elective surgery
What occurs in the pre-op assessment?
A history is taken. Anaesthetist specifically asks about PMHx of cardiovascular disease, exercise tolerance, RA, respiratory disease, renal disease, DM, thyroid disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, GORD, pregnancy, sickle cell disease and past surgical/anaesthetics history. A drug and FHx are also important
When should a pt stop smoking before surgery?
If you smoke, you have a 1 in 3 risk of post- operative breathing problems. This can be reduced to 1 in 10 if you stop 8 weeks before your op.
Even stopping 72 or 48 hours before an operation can decrease some of the risks.
When will a group & save and a cross-match be needed?
A group and save is recommended if blood loss if not anticipated but may be required if there is greater blood loss thanks expected
A cross-match is done if blood loss is anticipated
Pre-op investigations needed for minor surgery?
None if ASA 1 and 2
If ASA 3 or 4 then kidney function tests if risk of AKI and ECG if no results available from the past 12 months
Pre-op investigations needed for intermediate surgery?
None if ASA 1
If ASA 2 then may need kidney function tests and ECG if any risks
If ASA 3 or more then definitely ECG and kidney function tests. Consider FBC, Coag studies and lung function/ABG
Pre-op investigations needed for major surgery?
ASA 1 - FBC. Consider kidney function tests and ECG
ASA 2 - FBC, kidney function tests and ECG
ASA 3 or more - FBC, kidney function tests and ECG. Consider Coag studies and lung function tests/ABG
Which patients get MRSA swabs before surgery?
All
When is a pregnancy test indicated before surgery?
Always if there is any doubt at all
When is a HbA1c test indicated before surgery?
Only if they have diabetes and have not been tested in the last 3 months
When is testing for sickle cell disease before surgery indicated?
Not routinely
Only if FHx or suspicion
When are urine dipsticks indicated before surgery?
Do not routinely offer urine dipstick tests before surgery.
Consider microscopy and culture of midstream urine sample before surgery if the presence of a
UTI would influence the decision to operate
When is an echocardiogram indicated before surgery?
Not routinely!
Consider resting echocardiography if the person has: a heart murmur and any cardiac symptom (including breathlessness, pre-syncope, syncope
or chest pain) or signs or symptoms of heart failure.
Before ordering the resting echocardiogram, carry out a resting ECG and
discuss the findings with an anaest
What is the mallampati score?
This assesses access and the degree to which the oropharynx can be visualized
Score of 1-4 is given
1 - complete visualisation of soft palate
2 - complete visualisation of the uvula
3 - visualisation of only the base of the uvula
4 - soft palate not visible at all
What is cardiopulmonary exercise testing?
This is a measurement of the cardiovascular and the respiratory system during exercise to assess a pt’s exercise capacity
This helps assess the risk of surgery and determine any appropriate pre-op and post-op care
Uses an ergometer and an ECG, VO2, VCO2, oxygen sats and BP is taken
What is prehabilitation?
These are simple steps a pt can do to be at their fittest before surgery which helps avoid complications
Includes improving diet, normal body weight, increasing activity levels, stopping smoking, cutting down on alcohol