title: "Routine" preoperative studies. Which studies in which patients?
abstract: The utility of mass screening of preoperative patients has never been demonstrated for the majority of tests. Although screening patients to uncover occult disease appears logical, in reality it has resulted in excessive expenditure of our health care dollars with limited benefit. More than $30 billion is spent annually on preoperative examinations, 60% of which are unnecessary. In addition, iatrogenic injury has resulted from the further evaluation and treatment of false-positive results. A selective utilization of routine examinations can accurately supplement the clinician's evaluation, providing the patient with a complete preoperative assessment. The benefits of selective testing must be balanced against the possible omission of warranted examinations, highlighting the need for a more reliable system for test ordering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Lahey-Hitchcock Clinic, Burlington, MA, USA.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Marcello
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014481:United States