[Value of selective prescription of preanesthetic laboratory tests]

The aim of this study was to determine the comparative value of routine or selective ordering of preoperative tests. 400 ASA I, II, III patients were enrolled in the study. Two periods were considered: a retrospective period where the patients (n = 200) underwent routine preoperative tests and a prospective period where the patients (n = 200) had only preoperative tests according to the results of questioning and clinical examination. During the retrospective period 1.408 tests were effected with 44 abnormal results. During the prospective period, the abnormal results among 855 prescribed tests were: 0.8% in ASA I patients, 7.5% in ASA II and 5.9% in ASA III patients. The ASA I patients had an average of 3.47 +/- 1.28 tests each, ASA II patients 4.50 +/- 1.21 and ASA III 7.50 +/- 1.50. No complication inducing sequelae or death could be linked to lacking tests. The mean cost of tests was reduced by 50 percent.