title: Preparing for surgery: this practical workup pinpoints preoperative dangers.
abstract: Older patients undergo 20 to 40% of surgical procedures and account for 50% of surgical emergencies. Your presurgical workup can pinpoint potential cardiac, pulmonary, or metabolic problems that could endanger your patient in the operating room. Not everyone needs an extensive cardiac workup. To determine who does, you can use the Goldman criteria to predict the risk for postoperative cardiac complications. Preoperative test selection is based on these predicted risks and on information from the patient history and physical exam. Medication adjustments and discharge planning are important considerations as well.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Virginia/McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kozak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012307:Risk Factors