Whats the purpose of a preoperative assessment?
At this time, patients are given instructions on how to prepare for surgery. It is important that patients be evaluated prior to any procedure requiring anesthesia so that known medical conditions can be addressed and optimized prior to surgery. In addition, conditions not known to the patient can be discovered incidentally and subsequently treated so that anesthesia may be provided in the safest manner possible. Medical problems that interfere with safe anesthesia which are not addressed before surgery could cause a delay or even result in cancellation of elective surgical procedures.
