The internal medicine specialist and the preoperative risk evaluation and management

Abstract

BACKGROUND Medical consultation for patients preparing to undergo surgery is an important activity for internists and many of them feel unprepared for this role because of its complexity. They are asked to assess the patient’s status, to detect unknown diseases and to make recommendations concerning medical management of the patient in the peri- and post-operative period to reduce any risk. Topic areas are cardiac risk stratification, pulmonary complications and risk reduction strategies. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this review is to summarize available evidence on preoperative risk stratification and management.

Keywords

• Preoperative evaluation
• Cardiac risk
• Beta-blocker therapy
• Pulmonary complication.