[Application of a preoperative evaluation model in patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery]

We used a preoperative evaluation model based on the clinical history in order to determine the clinical characteristics of the patients. We also estimated the prevalence of asymptomatic disease in ASA1 patients and described the frequency of diagnosis that motivated suspension of the surgery during the preoperative time. Another purpose was to establish the perioperative complications according to the risk index and to detect the medical reasons for suspension of surgery during hospitalization. A total of 777 patients having an indication of surgery were evaluated in this program. Only 507 completed the preoperative evaluation. Of these, 57.79%, had at least one known disease or were diagnosed by their clinical history. Preoperative tests were indicated according to age in ASA1 patients. Complementary studies were indicated in relationship to the history and physical examination in ASA2 and ASA3 patients. After the evaluation, 27 surgeries were suspended: 21 were considered high risk, 2 suffered unknown active infections, and 4 ASA1 patients had severe asymptomatic anemia. A total of 328 patients were admitted for surgery. In 5 of these patients the anesthesiologist stopped the procedure in the operating room. The causes were acute decompensations of known pathologies. There were no complications or deaths related to unknown diseases and no patients died from cardiopulmonary or metabolic complications. In ASA1 patients, there were no complications related to this evaluation. This study allowed us to determine the clinical status of the patients and in consequence high-risk surgeries were canceled. In admitted patients a few surgeries were canceled for clinical reasons. This program probably decreased patient morbimortality, unnecessary hospitalization and costs.