title: Pre-operative Anaesthesia visit: Problems and Prospects in a University Teaching Hospital in Enugu, South East Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pre-anaesthetic evaluation is a basic component of safe anaesthetic practice and ends with the establishment of an anaesthetic plan of action for individual patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess the difficulties encountered by the anaesthetist during such visits and suggest ways they can be overcome
  
  
  METHODS
  The 'activity book' of anaesthetic resident doctors in the hospital was reviewed retrospectively for documented problems they encountered during the pre-operative visit. The problems listed were then subjected to analysis using the SPSS 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The commonest problem was the unavailability of the patient for review 73.1% followed by very busy schedule (7.4%) and unfit patients (6.9%)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anaesthetists still do encounter problems during the pre-operative visit. Exposing such problems creates the necessary awareness for improvement of patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ezike
authors.forename: Ao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amucheazi
authors.forename: Vo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ajuzieoegu