Routine preoperative testing in adults undergoing elective non-cardiothoracic surgery

KCE Reports 280C (2017)

Before surgery, it is customary to prescribe a battery of tests, such as blood and urine tests, an electrocardiogram, a chest X-ray or other medical imaging exams. These examinations are supposed to detect possible risks to the health of the patient during or after the operation (operational risk). But are those tests really still necessary, especially when the patient has no particular symptoms? By examining recent scientific data on 15 frequently requested examinations, we have been able to establish which ones are really useful. In order to facilitate the use of these recommendations, we have transposed them into an application that doctors (and patients!) can consult on their smartphone, tablet or PC. To download it: http://preop.kce.be