Are Preoperative Routine Laboratory Tests Necessary in Minor and Moderate Surgical Procedures?

Preoperative routine tests are commonly used to evaluate patients who will have planned elective surgical procedure. In this study, we aimed to identify the preoperative tests required for ASA I-II patients, over 40 years old, who will undergo elective minor and moderate surgeries. Totally 140 patients were included in the study. They were separated into 2 groups equally [Group I (40-59 years) and Group II (≥60 years)] according to their ages. The patients’ preoperative tests; including chest radiography, electrocardiography, hemoglobin, white blood cell, platelets, glucose, sodium, potassium, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, ürea and creatinine were evaluated together with history and physical examination. After routine monitoring, balance anaesthesia was performed. The patients were followed during the peroperative and postoperative 24 hours for any problems occurred. In Group I; excluding ürea in both male and female patients and haemoglobin in only female patients; preoperative tests had no effect on the management of the asymptomatic patients. In Group II; electrocardiography, chest radiography, ürea, glucose and hemoglobin tests effected the management of the patients in the preoperative and postoperative period. In conclusion, preoperative tests could be ordered according to history and physical examination of the patients.