Pre-operative assessment is needed prior to most elective surgical procedures to ensure that you are fit for proposed surgery. This is the time to consult you with medical staff, surgical team, and anesthesiologist and if necessary take action to ensure that you are in the best possible health.
A research study conducted among patients who had pre-operative visits while the other group did not. The results of the study showed a substantial reduction in anxiety for the visited group 24 to 72 hours post-operatively. The study also found a positive association between the rates of preoperative anxiety and the level of discomfort, nausea, and loss of independence felt by both groups.
What should i bring to my pre-operative assessment visit?
- Previous health records from other hospitals
- Recent blood work reports
- Any images such as X-rays, CAT scan report, MRI, etc
- The medication you takes.
A few steps involve a visit to the pre-assessment clinic.
After checking in with the reception team, nursing personnel plays a very important role in gathering information, answering your questions, and supplying you with more detail about your surgery and recovery time. Your surgeon may explain, the procedure and obtain consent and give instructions regarding the surgery.
After meeting rest of the surgical team, your anesthetist gather all the relevant information which include-
- If you can speak and understand English, or if a translator might be needed.
- If you have an impaired hearing, vision, or mobility, or require some other special aid.
- Any allergies you have or sensitivities to the medication.
- If you have some chronic illnesses, medicines you take over the counter medicines, including prescription medicines, and herbal preparations.
- If you are a woman, whether you are or may be pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding and last menstrual period.
- Your previous surgeries and anesthetic experiences.
- Any problems you had with anesthetics in the past.
- Any serious anesthetic complications you or your family members experience or a condition called malignant hyperthermia.
- Any problems you had with anesthetics in the past or recall
After reviewing your medical records and interview, your anesthetist will do a brief physical examination , especially do an airway assessment. Depending on the information gathered earlier, the anesthetist or surgeon can ask for more tests.
If you are fit for the surgery, your anesthetist will now obtain the anesthesia consent for procedure and provide you with necessary instructions such as
- The type of anesthesia you receive can be general anesthesia, sedation, regional anesthesia, etc.
- Which drugs to take before surgery or not.
- When not to eat or drink before the surgery.
- Unique steps that should be taken in your case such as overnight stay, ICU stay, etc.
- Risk and benefits involved in the surgery and anesthesia and its complications.
- pain management options prior, intra-op, and after surgery.
A key function of the preoperative evaluation testing (PAT) clinic is to evaluate patients before surgery and collect information from which risk assessment and perioperative management decisions are made. This method precedes anesthetic treatment delivery, before both surgical and non-surgical procedures.
Source:
Pre-operative visits to reduce patient anxiety: a study
http://journals.rcni.com/nursing-standard/preoperative-visits-to-reduce-patient-anxiety-a-study
Development, Functioning, and Effectiveness of a Preoperative Risk Assessment Clinic. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5090289/
Lee A Fleisher, Evidence-Based Practice of Anesthesiology, (Philadelphia,2004) 5-15.