The Pre-Operative Assessment: Your Best Safety Guarantee

If you are about to have surgery, you have probably heard the word “pre-op”. But do you know what it actually involves, and why it matters so much?

This is what the pre-operative work-up covers, what you have to do, and why following your surgeon’s instructions to the letter is not bureaucracy.

What is a pre-operative assessment?

The pre-operative assessment is the set of tests and clinical examinations you go through before any surgical procedure.

Its purpose is to evaluate your general state of health, so that any risk can be identified before you go into theatre rather than during the operation. It is compulsory for most procedures that involve a hospital stay. It begins with a consultation with your surgeon and ends when you are taken into theatre and the anaesthetic begins.

How long before surgery is it done?

The tests are generally carried out within the 72 hours before surgery. During that window your health is assessed through your medical history, a physical examination and a series of clinical tests. If you are having a general anaesthetic, you will also be seen by an anaesthetist.

You will sign a consent form confirming that you have been informed about the technique being used and the risks it carries. Read it. It exists for you, not for the clinic.

The three standard tests before surgery

Full blood test

This establishes how your blood clots and the number, proportion and variation of the cells in it: white cells, red cells and platelets. Biochemistry is also run to check levels of glucose, sodium and potassium, and to assess kidney function.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An ECG assesses the general state of your heart by recording its electrical activity.

Chest X-ray

An X-ray of the chest lets the doctor evaluate your lungs, airways, heart, blood vessels, spine and chest wall. It is not needed in every case.

What exactly is the blood test looking for?

The blood test is one of the pillars of the pre-operative work-up, because it confirms your baseline values before the operation. It includes:

• Full blood count — to detect anaemia and infection.
• Blood sugar — to detect diabetes.
• Kidney function — to confirm your kidneys are working normally.
• Clotting tests — to confirm your blood clots as it should.
• Total protein, in particular albumin, which keeps fluid inside the blood vessels, and globulin, which is an important part of the immune system.

None of this is a formality. It is the part of the process that catches the problem before it becomes one.

If you have questions about your own pre-operative assessment, we will be glad to answer them at our clinic in Málaga. Consultations are available in English.