[An analysis and evaluation of anesthetic consultations for patients undergoing elective surgery]

We reviewed 212 patients whom we consulted before elective surgery concerning their indications of operation and anesthetic risks for the last 18 month periods. Patients' ages were between 6 months to 89 years old, and 46% of the patients consulted were over 60 years of age. Main medical problems related to anesthetic risks included cardiovascular problems (36% of patients), respiratory problems (14%), the abnormality of metabolism or endocrine (8%), hepatic dysfunction (8%), and so on. Most of the patients with ischemic heart disease, hypertension, dysrhythmia, or dysfunction of respiratory system, were over 60 years of age. Those with diabetes mellitus, dysfunction of liver or kidney, or anemia were over 40 years of age. Those with convulsion or congenital heart disease were under 19 years of age. In attempting anesthetic evaluations, patients were assessed according to ASA physical status classification; class I (3%), class II (56%), class III (36%), class IV (5%). Although there was no patient who had intraoperative cardiac arrest or death related to anesthesia, postoperative mortality within 3 months were 19% for ASA class III patients and 60% for class IV. And all ASA IV patients who received their operation died postoperatively. In patients who were classified as ASA III or IV, we feel it is better to add more detailed classification such as Goldman's classification in addition to physical status classification of ASA for preanesthetic assessments of patients, because the majority of patients were elderly with life-threatening complications of cardiovascular and/or respiratory systems.