Preoperative Risk Assessment

What is a preoperative risk assessment?

A preoperative risk assessment is an exam you go through before having surgery. You need the exam to make sure you’re healthy enough for the anesthesia and procedure. Some of the key factors the preoperative risk assessment looks for are:

• Ischemic heart disease
• Heart failure
• Cardiomyopathy
• Severe aortic stenosis
• Symptomatic mitral regurgitation
• Significant arrhythmias
• Chronic kidney failure
• History of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Diabetes that requires insulin
• Chronic pulmonary dysfunction
• Obesity
• Anemia

The assessor also checks for any signs of poor health or reduced function that could affect your response to anesthesia or surgery.

What does a preoperative risk assessment involve?

Preoperative risk assessments begin with your Nader Cardiology provider reviewing basic health information like your medical history, current medications, and pre-existing health conditions.

You also undergo a physical to check your vital signs and health indicators like lung sounds.

Do I need any tests for my preoperative risk assessment?

Your preoperative risk assessment will likely include various tests, such as:

Lab tests

Blood tests identify infections and problems like anemia that can make surgery riskier. Blood tests can also show whether your immune system is healthy. If it isn’t, it could increase the risk of infection and extend your postoperative recovery. A pregnancy test is also advisable if there’s any chance you could be pregnant.

Diagnostic imaging

You might need to have X-rays or other diagnostic imaging procedures, like an echocardiogram, to check your heart function before surgery.

Respiratory testing

If you have breathing problems, a condition like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that restricts your breathing, or you’re obese, you might need to have lung function and respiration (breathing) tests.

To evaluate your heart's function, you might also need to have specific cardiac procedures, such as stress testing.

What happens after my preoperative risk assessment?

After the preoperative risk assessment is complete, your doctor at Nader Cardiology goes over the results with you. If there are no potential problems, your surgery can go ahead. If there are any issues, they need addressing before surgery.

Some issues just need special preparation, for example, arranging preventive measures to avoid blood clots if you’re at risk. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, the surgical team might need to put additional checks in place to ensure you don’t have any breathing problems under general anesthesia.

To find out more about having a preoperative risk assessment, call Nader Cardiology today or book an appointment online.