Home | | Anesthesiology | Elements of the Preoperative Physical Examination

Chapter: Clinical Anesthesiology: Anesthetic Management: Preoperative Assessment, Premedication, & Perioperative Documentation

Elements of the Preoperative Physical Examination

The preoperative history and physical examination complement one another: The physical examina-tion may detect abnormalities not apparent from the history, and the history helps focus the physical examination.

Elements of the Preoperative Physical Examination

The preoperative history and physical examination complement one another: The physical examina-tion may detect abnormalities not apparent from the history, and the history helps focus the physical examination. Examination of healthy asymptomatic patients should include measurement of vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature) and examination of the airway, heart, lungs, and musculoskeletal system using standard techniques of inspection, auscultation, palpation, and percussion. Before procedures such as a nerve block, regional anesthesia, or invasive monitoring the relevant anatomy should be examined; evidence of infection near the site or of anatomic abnormali-ties may contraindicate the planned procedure. An abbreviated neurological examination is important when regional anesthesia will likely be used. The preoperative neurological examination serves to document whether any neu-rological deficits may be present before the block is performed.

The anesthesiologist must examine the patient’s airway before every anesthetic procedure. The patient’s dentition should be inspected for loose or chipped teeth, caps, bridges, or dentures. Poor fit of the anesthesia mask should be expected in edentu-lous patients and those with significant facial abnor-malities. Micrognathia (a short distance between the chin and the hyoid bone), prominent upper incisors, a large tongue, limited range of motion of the tem-poromandibular joint or cervical spine, or a short or thick neck suggest that difficulty may be encoun-tered in direct laryngoscopy for tracheal intubation .

Study Material, Lecturing Notes, Assignment, Reference, Wiki description explanation, brief detail
Clinical Anesthesiology: Anesthetic Management: Preoperative Assessment, Premedication, & Perioperative Documentation : Elements of the Preoperative Physical Examination |


Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, DMCA Policy and Compliant

Copyright © 2018-2023 BrainKart.com; All Rights Reserved. Developed by Therithal info, Chennai.