Pre-Operative Clearance
What We Offer
A pre-operative physical examination is generally performed upon the request of a surgeon to ensure that a patient is healthy enough to safely undergo anesthesia and surgery. This evaluation usually includes a physical examination, cardiac evaluation, lung function assessment, and appropriate laboratory tests.
All pre-operative physical examinations begin by gathering basic health related information such as medical history, pre-existing conditions, and current medication. Patients may be asked a variety of medical questions to better understand their current physical/health condition so the right decisions can be made for surgery. Testing may include:
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What is a Preoperative Clearance
Preoperative medical evaluations are necessary prior to many types of surgery. This assessment provides meaningful information to an orthopedic surgeon. Its purpose is to evaluate any medical problems present and how they might affect the patient’s operative risk. By assessing the patient’s fitness for surgery in advance, it offers both patient and surgeon with realistic expectations of what complications could arise during and after surgery and determine the interventions the patient needs to lower that risk.
The typical scope of a pre-op checkup before surgery includes:
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Taking a medical history
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Physical examination
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Checking vital signs
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Urinalysis
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Electrocardiogram (EKG)
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Blood tests
Your orthopedic surgeon will refer you to your primary care provider to have a preoperative medical consultation to provide the surgeon with up-to-date information about the patient’s medical condition and how they are likely to respond to anesthesia. This information is useful to help the patient recover as quickly and safely as possible after orthopedic surgeries such as total joint replacement, fracture resetting, or back surgery, among many other types of orthopedic surgeries. Pre-op clearance also ensures the patient can proceed with surgery with minimal risk. However, even higher-risk patients can proceed with surgery if the anticipated benefits of the surgery outweigh the risks.