title: Preoperative medical consultation: maximizing its benefits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing complexity of medical and surgical care often demands comprehensive preoperative work-ups by medical consultants and detailed management recommendations to optimize the patient's medical ailments before surgery. This article aims to review the available evidence and discuss elements of the preoperative medical consultation that are of particular relevance to surgeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors performed a comprehensive review of the available medical literature and guidelines pertaining to preoperative medical management and present a narrative summary of their findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although many preoperative recommendations are based on expert opinion and consensus, a growing number of studies and clinical practice guidelines provides direction as to what is the best management of patients with medical problems before surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collaborative efforts and adequate communication between the medical and surgical teams are necessary to ensure appropriate patient management before surgery. Although higher-risk patients may require thorough preoperative evaluations, extensive routine investigations may not always be necessary.
authors: Internal Medicine Service, Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA. raul.rivera@amedd.army.mil
authors: Raul A
authors: RA
authors: Rivera
authors: Mai T
authors: MT
authors: Nguyen
authors: Jorge I
authors: JI
authors: Martinez-Osorio
authors: Matthew F
authors: MF
authors: McNeill
authors: Sayed K
authors: SK
authors: Ali
authors: Ishak A
authors: IA
authors: Mansi
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D013502:General Surgery; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment