Pre-operative assessment

Question 1

what are the baseline investigations carried out before getting general anaesthesia for surgery?

Answer 1

FBC
blood glucose
renal function tests
clotting screen

if over 40yrs - ECG

Question 2

when assessing fitness for surgery, what conditions would you ask about in the family history?

Answer 2

malignant hyperpyrexia

cholinesterase deficiency

Question 3

what complications does diabetes put you at greater risk of when under general anaesthesia?

Answer 3

hypoglycaemia

increased risk of infection

Question 4

what conditions have to be considered during the pre-op assessment which are associated with complications and what are these?

Answer 4

heart burn - reflux

neuromuscular - poor resp function, likely need post op ventilation, increased risk of aspiration

jaundice - coagulopathy, altered metabolism and excretion

chronic renal failure - anaemia, altered excretion restricts drug choice

rheumatoid disease - TMJ and cervical spine involvement complicates airway management

diabetes - IHD, infection, glycemic control

Question 5

what grading is used for fitness for surgery?

Answer 5

ASA- grading