[Preoperative check-up of patients with neurological disease]

Often, patients with neurological diseases need to undergo surgical procedures. The most frequent are orthopaedic surgery (tenotomies, corrections of articulations), urological procedures (for instance, sphincter surgery for urinary incontinence), ENT surgery (tracheotomy), or plastic surgery for closure of decubitus ulcers. Preoperatively, these patients need a careful check-up including a thorough drug history. Specific diagnostic interventions may be indicated, for instance, lung functions tests in patients with muscular weakness undergoing thoracic or upper abdominal surgery. A close collaboration between general practitioner and anaesthesiologist is warranted. It cannot be excluded that symptoms of the neurological disease will deteriorate postoperatively due to anaesthesia, surgery or perioperative stress. Medication that is used to control symptoms of a neurological disease should not be stopped in the perioperative period.