What is a preoperative procedure and why is it necessary?
- What tests are necessary before surgery?
- What guidelines should be followed during the pre-operative period?
- Immediate preoperative on the day of surgery
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- The preoperative examination is mandatory for most surgeries, especially those requiring a postoperative hospital stay.
- The preoperative period allows the anaesthesiologist to know the patient's health and to control the anaesthesia as well as any incident during the surgery.
- The preoperative consists of all the necessary steps taken up to the moment of surgery.
What tests are necessary before surgery?
The preoperative period is the stage that includes the physical examination and the relevant studies of the patient until the surgical intervention begins.
The medical team must have all the information about the patient in order to be able to perform the operation in the safest way. It is likely that the patient will be asked the same questions several times. The patient will meet with the surgeon before the operation.
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Before surgery, the patient will undergo a complete check-up, access to their medical history and a physical examination. The most common pre-operative tests are:
- Chest X-ray. This test is performed not only to check for signs of infection, but also to check that the trachea is properly aligned.
- Complete blood test. This test is done to check for signs of infection, as this could lead to unwanted infections that could cause major complications.
- Electrocardiogram. This test will allow the specialist and anaesthetist to check the patient's cardiovascular health.
In addition to the above-mentioned tests, depending on the individual patient and the operation, other tests may be requested.
The purpose of the preoperative tests is to determine how the patient will react to the anaesthesia and to the surgical procedure in general.
Sometimes it is also common to meet with the nursing staff and the anaesthesiologist who will be involved in the operation in the week prior to surgery.
Depending on the patient's situation and the procedure to be performed, it may be necessary for the surgeon to seek the opinion of another specialist.
What guidelines should be followed during the pre-operative period?
Before the day of the operation, the patient must comply with certain guidelines and follow certain medical indications:
Pre-operative fasting
Doctors will determine how long the patient should go without food before the operation. Fasting serves to prevent complications in the organism caused by the anaesthesia. Fasting time before surgery is about six hours, although it may be longer in some cases.
Psychological preparation
We cannot forget the psychological aspect in the preoperative period. It is essential to provide the patient with all the necessary information about the operation, so that they are well informed and have no doubts, in order to reduce their fear of the operation as much as possible. Many patients suffer from postoperative stress and this preparation can help to reduce the patient's muscular tension.
The patient should know the details of the operation and at the same time, the medical staff should inspire confidence and reassurance, listening to the patient attentively and answering all his or her questions.
The atmosphere in the clinic or hospital should be peaceful, avoiding loud colours, noise and anything that may disturb the patient's peace of mind.
It is therefore necessary to prepare the patient physically and psychologically whenever needed.
Signing the informed consent form
Before the procedure, the patient must sign a document in which he/she states that he/she has received the necessary information and expressly consents to the surgical procedure to be performed on him/her. This document is called informed consent.
Immediate preoperative on the day of surgery
The patient must come to the operation duly cleaned or take a shower there, as previously indicated. If there is hair in the area to be operated on, the surgeon may request shaving, always taking care not to damage the skin and at least 20 minutes before the operation.
Before being admitted to hospital for the operation, the patient must hand in the necessary documentation for the surgery.
It is necessary for the patient to remove jewellery, glasses, watches and other items before the operation.
Just prior to surgery, basic vital signs such as body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate should be checked.
Once the operation is over, the patient should be informed that everything went well, oriented in case he/she wakes up disoriented, and reassured accordingly.
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Medical disclaimer: All the published content in Operarme is intended to disseminate reliable medical information to the general public, and is reviewed by healthcare professionals. In any case should this information be used to perform a diagnosis, indicate a treatment, or replace the medical assessment of a professional in a face to face consultation. Find more information in the links below:
