Welcome to our archive of questions asked during the last few years of our online discussion featured in SAMBA Talks, our monthly eNewsletter. If you would like to propose a new question for discussion or if you would like to enter an additional comment for a particular question, send us a note. If you are submitting an additional comment, please tell us the question to which the comment belongs.

Please note: The information presented in the replies below does not represent SAMBA policy. The replies are solely the opinions of the individuals who wrote them.

Preoperative Evaluation/Patient Issues/Pre-Op Lab Requirements

Question:

What are your guidelines for pre-op lab requirements in the freestanding surgery center?

-- From Diana McDaniel, R.N., M.S.N., Evansville, IN

Reply:

Preoperative laboratory tests in the freestanding surgery center should be the same as those used anywhere that elective surgery with anesthesia is performed. The ASA has developed a Practice Advisory for Preanesthesia Evaluation (last amended in 2003; available at http://www.asahq.org/publicationsAndServices/preeval.pdf) which applies the same recommendations to general anesthesia, regional anesthesia and moderate to deep sedation, for elective surgical and non-surgical procedures. They do not supply different recommendations for different anesthetizing locations.

Help in determining which tests to order can be obtained in the Practice Advisory mentioned above. This Advisory emphasizes that routine tests are not medically necessary, but tests should be performed on a selective basis, taking into consideration such factors as the patient's age, type and severity of pre-existing illnesses, and magnitude of the proposed procedure. Examples of indications for certain tests are included in the Advisory. Of course, any legal requirements in your region must be known and complied with.

-- Anonymous



© SOCIETY FOR AMBULATORY ANESTHESIA
520 N. Northwest Highway Park Ridge, Illinois 60068-2573
Tel: (847) 825-5586 Fax: (847) 825-5658
E-mail: samba@asahq.org