A E R
Editor-in-Chief : Mohamad Said Maani Takrouri (KSA)
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For entire Editorial Board visit : http://www.aeronline.org/editorialboard.asp
Anesthesia: Essays and Researches
Original Article
Preoperative testing in elective surgery: Is it really cost effective? Priyanga Ranasinghe, Y. Sanja Perera, J. A. D. Supun Senaratne, Anuja Abayadeera1 Departments of Clinical Medicine, and 1Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka Corresponding author: Dr. P. Ranasinghe, 9/2, Sirigal Avenue, Kohuwala, Sri Lanka. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract Introduction: During preoperative preparation, patients undergo investigations to detect asymptomatic diseases. The probability of finding significant abnormalities on such “routine” investigations is small, and these investigations unnecessarily increase costs of perioperative care. We evaluated current practices, compliance with national guidelines and costs of preoperative investigations at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing elective surgery at the general surgical units of the NHSL from June to August 2010 were included in this study.The National Guidelines on Preoperative Investigations were the standard of assessment. Data on preoperative investigations were collected using an expert-validated pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: Sample size was 2,061 patients. Mean age of the patients was 46.7±15.8 years; males constituted 54.2% of the study population. Majority of the patients were ASA-I (68.5%) and surgical grade II (62.0%). Request for chest X-ray and prothrombin time / international normalized ratio least conformed to the guidelines. Only fasting blood sugar / random blood sugar demonstrated ‘good’ compliance (>70%) to the guidelines. An ‘acceptable’ compliance (50%-70%) was seen for electrocardiogram, blood grouping and full blood count. All other investigations demonstrated ‘poor’ compliance (70%; b) ‘acceptable’ compliance, i.e., compliance between 50% and 70%; and c) ‘poor’ compliance, i.e., compliance
Editor-in-Chief : Mohamad Said Maani Takrouri (KSA)
Open Access HTML Format
For entire Editorial Board visit : http://www.aeronline.org/editorialboard.asp
Anesthesia: Essays and Researches
Original Article
Preoperative testing in elective surgery: Is it really cost effective? Priyanga Ranasinghe, Y. Sanja Perera, J. A. D. Supun Senaratne, Anuja Abayadeera1 Departments of Clinical Medicine, and 1Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka Corresponding author: Dr. P. Ranasinghe, 9/2, Sirigal Avenue, Kohuwala, Sri Lanka. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract Introduction: During preoperative preparation, patients undergo investigations to detect asymptomatic diseases. The probability of finding significant abnormalities on such “routine” investigations is small, and these investigations unnecessarily increase costs of perioperative care. We evaluated current practices, compliance with national guidelines and costs of preoperative investigations at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing elective surgery at the general surgical units of the NHSL from June to August 2010 were included in this study.The National Guidelines on Preoperative Investigations were the standard of assessment. Data on preoperative investigations were collected using an expert-validated pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: Sample size was 2,061 patients. Mean age of the patients was 46.7±15.8 years; males constituted 54.2% of the study population. Majority of the patients were ASA-I (68.5%) and surgical grade II (62.0%). Request for chest X-ray and prothrombin time / international normalized ratio least conformed to the guidelines. Only fasting blood sugar / random blood sugar demonstrated ‘good’ compliance (>70%) to the guidelines. An ‘acceptable’ compliance (50%-70%) was seen for electrocardiogram, blood grouping and full blood count. All other investigations demonstrated ‘poor’ compliance (70%; b) ‘acceptable’ compliance, i.e., compliance between 50% and 70%; and c) ‘poor’ compliance, i.e., compliance
