Pre-operative screening: Criteria for referring to anaesthetists

Asbury, A.J., Crawford, J.M. and Hilditch, W.G. (2003) Pre-operative screening: Criteria for referring to anaesthetists. Division of Developmental Medicine, 58(2), pp. 117-124. (doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.02952)

Abstract

Nurses assess patients pre-operatively using screening questionnaires and locally-developed protocols. Our objectives were to determine which questions might identify patients who should be seen by an anaesthetist before the day of surgery. A review of the literature and a preliminary questionnaire to establish questions to be tested was followed by a modified, two-round Delphi questionnaire to determine the level of agreement by anaesthetists. There was agreement for referring patients who gave a positive response to questions that query: restricted exercise tolerance; previous anaesthetic problems; family history of anaesthetic problem; pathology affecting neck movement; angina; arrhythmia; heart failure; asthma; epilepsy; insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; liver disease and unspecified kidney disease. There was equivocal agreement on questions that report a myocardial infarction over one year ago, cerebrovascular accident, non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease. Nurses should use these criteria during pre-operative assessment to decide the timing of evaluation by an anaesthetist.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Asbury, Dr Adrian
• Authors: Asbury, A.J., Crawford, J.M., and Hilditch, W.G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Journal Name: Division of Developmental Medicine