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Guidelines
Background/Reference Material
The topic of ‘Preoperative Investigations’ is covered in all standard anaesthesia texts.
The UK NICE Guidelines also provide a useful framework.
Discussion Notes
A common source of confusion arises from a question of purpose:- If the consideration of a test is solely limited to the planned procedure, then few tests may be indicated. If, however, the purpose of the pre-procedural evaluation is a broader review of the patient’s health status (particularly if their primary care has been suboptimal), then it may be considered appropriate to order a wider range of tests.
