Preoperative Assessment in

Anesthesia

dr. Sriwahyuniati P. Sp.An

 Preoperative Evaluation

Anesthetic drugs and techniques have profound effects

on human physiology. Hence, a focused review of all
major organ systems should be completed prior to
surgery.

Goals of the preoperative evaluation is to ensure that the

patient is in the best (or optimal) condition.

Patients with unstable symptoms should be postponed

for optimization prior to elective surgery.
Steps of the preoperative visit :

I. Problem Identification

II. Risk Assessment

III. Preoperative Preparation

IV. Plan of Anesthetic Technique

I. Problem Identification

 Cardiovascular : hypertension ; ischemic , valvular or congenital heart disease;

CHF or cardiomyopathy, , arrhythmias
 Respiratory : smoking; COPD; restrictive lung disease; altered control of breathing
(obstructive sleep apnea, CNS disorders, etc.)
 Neuromuscular : raised ICP ; TIA's or CVA's; seizures; spinal cord Injury;
disorders of NM junction e.g myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophies ,MH
 Endocrlne : DM; thyroid disease; pheochromocytoma; steroid therapy
 GI - Hepatic : hepatic disease; gastresophageal reflux
 Renal : renal failure
 Hematologic : anemias; coagulopathies
 Elderly , Children, Pregnancy
 Medications and Allergies
 Prior Anesthetics
 Related to Surgery : significant blood loss; respiratory compromise; positioning
I. Problem Identification

through :

●History (including a review of the patient's chart)

●Physical examination

●laboratory investigation
Physical Examination:
 General & Local examination

 Should focus on evaluation of :

• Upper airway

• Respiratory system

• Cardiovascular system
• other systems’ problems identified from the history
Predictors of difficult intubation ( 4 M )

Mallampati

Measurements 3-3-2-1 or 1-2-3-3 Patient ‘s fingers

Movement of the Neck

Malformations of the Skull

Teeth
Obstruction
Pathology
 Mallampati
Class I = visualize the soft palate, fauces, uvula, anterior
and posterior pillars.

Class II = visualize the soft palate, fauces and uvula.

Class III = visualize the soft palate and the base

of the uvula.

Class IV = soft palate is not visible at all.

Measurements 3-3-2-1
3 Fingers Mouth Opening

3 Fingers Hypomental Distance. (3 Fingers between the tip

of the jaw and the beginning of the neck (under the chin)

2 Fingers between the thyroid notch and the floor of the

mandible (top of the neck)

1 Finger Lower Jaw Anterior sublaxation

Movement of the Neck
Malformation
Skull (Hydro and Microcephalus)

Teeth (Buck, protruded, & loose teeth. Macro and Micro mandibles)

Obstruction (obesity, short Bull Neck & swellings around the head
and neck)

Pathology (Craniofacial abnormalities & Syndromes e.g. Treacher

Collins, Goldenhar's, Pierre Robin syndromes)

“Patients with an abnormal airway (including Class III or IV

airway) should be considered at higher risk “.
 Treacher Collins
(mandibulofacial dysostosis)
 Pierre Robin
( hypertelorism; and external and middle ear deformities)
 Goldenhar's
(oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia)
 Preoperative Laboratory Testing:
only if indicated from the preoperative history and physical examination.
"Routine or standing" pre operative tests should be discouraged

-CBC anticipated significant blood loss, suspected hematological

disorder (eg.anemia, thalassemia, SCD), or recent chemotherapy.

-Electrolytes diuretics, chemotherapy, renal or adrenal disorders

-ECG age >40 yrs ,history of cardiac disease, hypertension, peripheral

vascular disease, DM, renal, thyroid or metabolic disease.

-Chest X-rays prior cardiothoracic procedures ,COPD, asthma, a

change in respiratory symptoms in the past six months.

-Urine analysis DM, renal disease or recent UTI.

-tests for different systems according to history and examination
II. Risk Assessment

Components for evaluating perioperative risk:

• patient's medical condition preoperatively
• extent of the surgical procedure
• risk from the anesthetic

“Most of the work, however, addresses the operative risk

according to the patient's preoperative medical status”
 ASA Physical Status Classification System

medical status mortality

ASA I normal healthy patient without organic, biochemical, 0.06-0.08%
or psychiatric disease
ASA II mild systemic disease with no significant impact on Unlikely to have
daily activity e.g. mild diabetes, controlled an impact
hypertension, obesity . 0.27-0.4%
ASA III severe systemic disease that limits activity e.g. angina, Probable impact
COPD, prior myocardial infarction 1.8-4.3%
ASA IV an incapacitating disease that is a constant threat to Major impact
life e.g. CHF, unstable angina, renal failure ,acute MI, 7.8-23%
respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation
ASA V moribund patient not expected to survive 24 hours 9.4-51%
e.g. ruptured aneurysm
ASA VI brain-dead patient whose organs are being harvested

For emergent operations, you have to add the letter ‘E’ after the classification .
American Society of Anesthesiologists Patient
Classification

1 =A normal healthy patient

2 =A patient with a mild systemic disease
3 = A patient with a severe systemic disease that limits activity,
but is not incapacitating
4 =A patient with an incapacitating systemic disease that is a
constant threat to life
5 =A moribund patient not expected to survive 24 hours with or
without operation
ASA 1
 A normal, healthy patient. The pathological
process for which surgery is to be performed
is localized and does not entail a systemic
disease.

Example: An otherwise healthy patient

scheduled for a cosmetic procedure.
ASA 2
 A patient with systemic disease, caused either by
the condition to be treated or other
pathophysiological process, but which does not
result in limitation of activity.

Example: a patient with asthma, diabetes, or

hypertension that is well controlled with medical
therapy, and has no systemic sequelae
ASA 3
 A patient with moderate or severe systemic disease
caused either by the condition to be treated
surgically or other pathophysiological processes,
which does limit activity.

Example: a patient with uncontrolled asthma that

limits activity, or diabetes that has systemic
sequelae such as retinopathy
ASA 4
 A patient with severe systemic disease that is
a constant potential threat to life.

Example: a patient with heart failure, or a

patient with renal failure requiring dialysis.
ASA 5
 A patient who is at substantial risk of death
within 24 hours, and is submitted to the
procedure in desperation.

Example: a patient with fixed and dilated pupils

status post a head injury.
Emergency Status (E)
This is added to the ASA
designation only if the
patient is undergoing
an emergency
procedure.

Example: a healthy
patient undergoing
sedation for reduction
of a displaced fracture
would be an ASA1 E.
III. Preoperative Preparation
• Anesthetic indications:
-Anxiolysis, sedation and amnesia. e.g. benzodiazepine(diazepam ,lorazepam)
-Analgesia e.g narcotics
-Drying of airway secretions e.g atropine,glycopyrrolate,scopolamine
-Reduction of anesthetic requirements ,Facilitation of smooth induction
-Patients at risk for GE reflux :ranitidine ,metoclopramide , sodium citrate

• Surgical indications:
-Antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis.
-Prophylaxis against DVT for high risk patients : low-dose heparin or aspirin
intermittent calf compression, or warfarin.

• Co-existing Disease indications:

Some medications should be continued on the day of surgery e,g B blockers,
thyroxine. Others are stopped e.g oral hypoglycemics and antidepressants .
Steroids within the last six months may require supplemental steroids
Fasting Recommendations

MINIMUM FASTING PERIOD,

INGESTED MATERIAL APPLIED TO ALL AGES (hr)
Clear liquids 2
Breast milk 4
Infant formula 6
Nonhuman milk 6
Light meal (toast and clear liquids) 6
IV. Plan of Anesthetic Technique

1. Is the patient's condition optimal?

2. Are there any problems which require consultation or special

tests? “Please assess and advise “

3. Is there an alternative procedure which may be more appropriate?

4. What are the plans for postoperative management of the patient?

5. What premedication if any is appropriate?

On going to the operating room
He/she will have to remove:
 1. Dentures/partial plates
 2. Glasses/contact lenses
 3. Appliances/prosthesis
 4. Makeup/nail polish
 5. Hairpins/hairpiece
Finally, we plan our anesthetic technique :

1. Local or Regional anesthesia with 'standby‘ monitoring

with or without sedation.

2. General anesthesia; with or without intubation.

Spontaneous or controlled ventilation is used.

3. Combined regional with general anesthesia.

Thank You