title: Preoperative evaluation of the adult patient undergoing non-cardiac surgery: guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology.
abstract: The purpose of these guidelines on the preoperative evaluation of the adult non-cardiac surgery patient is to present recommendations based on available relevant clinical evidence. The ultimate aims of preoperative evaluation are two-fold. First, we aim to identify those patients for whom the perioperative period may constitute an increased risk of morbidity and mortality, aside from the risks associated with the underlying disease. Second, this should help us to design perioperative strategies that aim to reduce additional perioperative risks. Very few well performed randomised studies on the topic are available and many recommendations rely heavily on expert opinion and are adapted specifically to the healthcare systems in individual countries. This report aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on the subject with an assessment of the quality of the evidence in order to allow anaesthetists all over Europe to integrate - wherever possible - this knowledge into daily patient care. The Guidelines Committee of the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) formed a task force with members of subcommittees of scientific subcommittees and individual members of the ESA. Electronic databases were searched from the year 2000 until July 2010 without language restrictions. These searches produced 15 425 abstracts. Relevant systematic reviews with meta-analyses, randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies and cross-sectional surveys were selected. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network grading system was used to assess the level of evidence and to grade recommendations. The final draft guideline was posted on the ESA website for 4 weeks and the link was sent to all ESA members, individual or national (thus including most European national anaesthesia societies). Comments were collated and the guidelines amended as appropriate. When the final draft was complete, the Guidelines Committee and ESA Board ratified the guidelines.
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium. stefan.dehert@ugent.be
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: De Hert
authors: Georgina
authors: G
authors: Imberger
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Carlisle
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Diemunsch
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Fritsch
authors: Iain
authors: I
authors: Moppett
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Solca
authors: Sven
authors: S
authors: Staender
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Wappler
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D002309:Cardiology / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D057234:Preoperative Period; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires