title: Relevance of routine testing in low-risk patients undergoing minor and medium surgical procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preoperative tests aim to reduce morbidity and mortality of surgical patients, cost of perioperative care, and preoperative anxiety. Clinical evaluation allows defining the need for additional tests and strategies to reduce the surgical-anesthetic risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of routine preoperative testing of low-risk patients undergoing minor and medium surgical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study of 800 patients seen at the preanesthetic assessment department of Hospital Santo Antonio, Salvador, BA. Patients with physical status ASA I, aged 1-45 years and scheduled to undergo elective minor and medium surgeries were include in the study. We evaluated changes in blood count, coagulation profile, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, blood sugar, kidney function, sodium and potassium levels, and eventual change in clinical approach occurring due to these changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 800 patients evaluated, a blood count was performed in 97.5%, coagulation in 89%t, electrocardiogram in 74.1%, chest X-ray in 62%, fasting glucose in 68%, serum urea and creatinine in 55.7%, and plasma levels of sodium and potassium in 10.1%. Of these 700 patients, 68 (9.71%) showed changes in preoperative routine tests and only 10 (14.7%) of the patients with abnormal tests had a preoperative modified approach (i.e., new tests ordered, referral to a specialist or surgery postponement). No surgery was suspended.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that preoperative additional tests are excessively ordered, even for young patients with low surgical risk, with little or no interference in perioperative management. Laboratory tests, besides generating high and unnecessary costs, are not good standardized screening instruments for diseases.
authors.affiliation: PhD in Anesthesiology, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Brazil; CET-SBA - Centro de Ensino e Treinamento em Anestesiologia das Obras Sociais Irmã Dulce - Hospital Santo Antonio, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Sousa Soares
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiologist, Hospital Santo Antonio, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Ribeiro Marques
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiologist, Hospital Santo Antonio, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mirla Rossana Nogueira
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mourão
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiologist, Hospital Santo Antonio, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vera Lucia Fernandes de
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiologist, Hospital Santo Antonio, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Electronic address: azevedovlf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexandre Vieira
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiologist, Hospital Santo Antonio, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliomar Santana
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Trindade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diagnostic Tests; Preoperative Care.; Routine; Unnecessary Procedures