Pre-operative Evaluations
You have decided it is time to consider surgery to find relief to your problems. Before going under the knife your surgeon may want to ensure if you are healthy enough to go through with the procedure. Most operations often require some form of general anesthesia and your body goes under stress. This stress may affect the function of vital organs that if not in top shape, may not withstand the whole procedure.
To ensure the safety of patients, especially with elective operations, surgeons will often require patients to have some preliminary tests done to have an idea of how some vital organs are functioning depending on their current state of health. This is referred to as Pre-operative Evaluation. The main goal of this assessment is to identify patient comorbidities that have the potential to become complications during the peri-operative and post-operative settings.
What does a pre-op physical exam involve?
A pre-operative evaluation typically includes the aspects of a complete physical examination, along with some
additional elements.
During a pre-op physical exam, you can expect
Dr. Jessica Adkins to:
- Measure and record your height and weight
- Measure and record your blood pressure
- Listen to your heart and lungs
- Perform an EKG
- Discuss any chronic conditions you have and medications you take
- Assess risk factors that may lead to cardiac, pulmonary, or infectious complications
- Inquire about your anesthesia history Inquire about any allergies or reactions you have had to certain types of drugs
- Discuss your risk for surgical complications based on your history
Dr. Jessica Adkins also evaluates patients prior to various other types of surgery, because pre-operative physical examinations can help reduce the risk for even minor surgical procedures, depending on the patient’s age, underlying conditions, and overall physical health.
Schedule Your Pre-Op With Dr. Jessica Adkins Today!