Systematic preoperative tests prescription in elective surgery: it's high time to appraise!
Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The prescription of preoperative complementary tests aims to decrease morbidity and mortality associated to the perioperative period. AIM: To assess the practice and the financial cost of the systematic prescription of preoperative tests. METHODS: This was a retrospective study including all patients older than three years, scheduled for elective surgery from November 2018 to January 2019. Two attendings analyzed the data collected during the pre-anesthetic assessment and evaluated the usefulness of the ordered preoperative tests. The overall cost of prescribed preoperative tests and the cost generated by inappropriate prescriptions were also estimated. RESULTS: This study included 1006 patients. The average age was 46.9 ± 22.05 years old. Five hundred and twenty three of them (51.98%) have no medical history. Among the planned procedures, 6.46% had an intermediate or major bleeding risk. Preoperative prescriptions were ordered by surgeons in 99% of cases. Prescriptions were justifiable in only 9.42% of cases. Abnormal findings were noted in 4.98% of the patients. The total cost was almost 80992 Dinars (≈ 24543 €). Complying the guidelines would save 70245 Dinars (≈ 21286 €) during the three months' study. CONCLUSION: The routine prescription of preoperative complementary tests results in a significant additional economic cost. Developing national guidelines would change this attitude of unnecessary prescription.
Source: PubMed Central
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4313280150