[The preoperative check-up, anesthesiologic aspects]

A preoperative check-up has two main goals: first to detect concomitant disease beside the surgical problem that might influence anesthetic management. Second to assess treatment and the condition of the patient with stable concomitant disease. The patient should present in the best possible condition to anesthesia and operation. Disease of the cardiovascular system and the respiratory system are most commonly associated with increased anesthetic and surgical risk. Most abnormalities relevant to anesthesia are easily detected by history and physical examination. Routine preoperative screening tests (chest X-ray, ECG, hemoglobin, biochemistry) are of little value in detecting disease in younger people, although in patients over the age of 60 screening tests may be useful.