pre-op services

What are pre-operative services?

A pre-op examination is an assessment of your physical wellbeing to determine whether your body is healthy enough to receive anesthesia and undergo a major surgery. Your surgeon might recommend scheduling a pre-op examination in preparation for a number of different surgeries, including, but not limited to:
• Heart surgery
• Appendectomy
• Breast biopsy
• Low back pain surgery
• Hysterectomy
• Prostatectomy
• Hip replacement
• Arthroplasty of the knee
• Spinal fusion
• Colectomy

Keeping this yearly appointment with her ensures that your health is always being tended to, and that potential problems can be attacked from an approach that’s preventive rather than reactive.

Why do I need a pre-op examination?

A pre-op examination is necessary to determine whether your body can handle surgery. It’s also an incredibly vital diagnostic tool for your surgeon and anesthesiologist, who might use the results to individualize or alter your surgical care to better address your medical needs.

If you’re a high-risk patient, a pre-op examination also gives Dr. Mope the opportunity to prepare your body for surgery, helping you achieve a better outcome with less recovery downtime.

When should I get my pre-op examination?

You typically have your pre-op exam within 30 days of your scheduled date of surgery. This might vary, however, depending on the type of surgery you’re receiving and the preferences of your surgeon. Consult with your surgeon to make sure that you’ve scheduled your pre-op exam close enough to your surgery date.

What happens during a pre-op examination?

Dr. Mope will tailor your pre-op exam to the particular surgery that you’re getting and your personal medical history, so no two exams look exactly alike.

Some common factors amongst all pre-op examinations, however, include:
• A general physical exam, which includes measurement of your vital signs
• A review of your medical, surgical, and family history
• A review of your current and past medication list and immunizations

Depending on your physical condition and the surgery that you’re going in for, Dr. Mope might also order or conduct:
• X-rays
• Lab assessments, like urinalysis, blood tests, or an electrocardiogram
• Cardiac evaluation
• Pulmonary assessment
• Nutritional assessment