Preoperative Testing
eAppendix A. Guideline Summary for Preoperative ECG
Guideline Summary of recommendations
American College ECG is recommended for:
of Cardiology/ Patients with known heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, or cerebrovascular
American Heart disease who are undergoing intermediate- or high-risk surgery
Association,
Patients with one or more clinical risk factors (e.g., coronary artery disease, history
2007A1
of congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, renal
insufficiency) who are undergoing vascular surgery
ECG is reasonable for:
Patients with no clinical risk factors who are undergoing vascular surgery
Patients with one or more clinical risk factors who are undergoing intermediate-risk
surgery
ECG is not indicated for asymptomatic patients undergoing low-risk surgery
American Society of ECG may be indicated for patients with cardiovascular risk factors
Anesthesiologists,
2002A2
European Society ECG is recommended for patients with risk factors who are undergoing intermediate-
of Cardiology or high-risk surgery
and European ECG may be considered for:
Society of
Patients with risk factors who are undergoing low-risk surgery
Anaesthesiology,
2009A3 Patients with no risk factors who are undergoing intermediate-risk surgery
ECG is not indicated for patients with no risk factors who are undergoing low-risk
surgery
Institute for ECG is recommended for patients older than 65 years
Clinical Systems Consider ECG for:
Improvement,
Patients of any age with diabetes, hypertension, chest pain, congestive heart
2012A4
failure, smoking history, peripheral vascular disease, inability to exercise, or
morbid obesity
Patients with new signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease
ECG is not recommended for asymptomatic patients undergoing low-risk surgery
unless medical assessment reveals a high-risk patient
continued
ASA = American Society of Anesthesiologists; ECG = electrocardiography.
*—ASA patient classifications: 1 = healthy patient; 2 = patient with mild systemic disease; 3 = patient with severe
systemic disease.
†—Surgical grades: 2 = intermediate; 3 = major; 4 = major+.
March 15, 2013 ◆ Volume 87, Number 6 www.aafp.org/afp American Family Physician
Preoperative Testing
eAppendix A. Guideline Summary for Preoperative ECG (continued)
Guideline Summary of recommendations
UK National ECG is recommended for:
Institute Patients of any age who are undergoing cardiovascular surgery
for Clinical
ASA class 1 patients* older than 80 years
Excellence, 2003A5
ASA class 1 patients* older than 60 years who are undergoing grade 3 or 4
surgery†
ASA class 2 and 3 patients* with cardiovascular disease
ASA class 2 patients* older than 60 years with comorbid renal disease who are
undergoing grade 3 or 4 surgery†
ASA class 3 patients* older than 40 years with comorbid renal disease who are
undergoing grade 4 surgery†
ASA class 2 patients* with comorbid respiratory disease who are older than 80
years and are undergoing grade 3 or 4 surgery,† or who are older than 60 years
and are undergoing grade 4 surgery†
ASA class 3 patients* with comorbid respiratory disease who are older than 60
years and are undergoing grade 2 or 3 surgery,† or who are older than 40 years
and are undergoing grade 4 surgery†
Consider ECG for:
ASA class 1 patients* older than 16 years who are undergoing neurosurgery
ASA class 1 patients* older than 40 years who have clinical indications
ASA class 2 patients* with comorbid respiratory disease who are older than
40 years, regardless of surgical risk, or who are older than 16 years and are
undergoing grade 3 or 4 surgery†
ASA class 3 patients* with comorbid respiratory disease
ASA class 2 patients* older than 40 years or ASA class 3 patients* of any age with
comorbid renal disease
ASA = American Society of Anesthesiologists; ECG = electrocardiography.
*—ASA patient classifications: 1 = healthy patient; 2 = patient with mild systemic disease; 3 = patient with severe
systemic disease.
†—Surgical grades: 2 = intermediate; 3 = major; 4 = major+.
Information from:
A1. Fleisher LA, Beckman JA, Brown KA, et al.; American College of Cardiology; American Heart Association Task
Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2002 Guidelines on Perioperative Cardiovascular Evalu-
ation for Noncardiac Surgery); American Society of Echocardiography; American Society of Nuclear Cardiology; Heart
Rhythm Society; Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists; Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interven-
tions; Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology; Society for Vascular Surgery. ACC/AHA 2007 guidelines on periop-
erative cardiovascular evaluation and care for noncardiac surgery [published corrections appear in J Am Coll Cardiol.
2007;50(17):e242 and J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;52(9):793-794]. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;50(17):e159-e241.
A2. American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preanesthesia Evaluation. Practice advisory for preanesthesia
evaluation. Anesthesiology. 2002;96(2):485-496.
A3. Poldermans D, Bax JJ, Boersma E, et al.; Task Force for Preoperative Cardiac Risk Assessment and Perioperative Car-
diac Management in Non-cardiac Surgery; European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Guidelines for pre-operative cardiac
risk assessment and perioperative cardiac management in non-cardiac surgery. Eur Heart J. 2009;30(22):2769-2812.
A4. Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. Health care guideline: preoperative evaluation. 10th ed. Bloomington,
Minn.: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement; 2012.
A5. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Preoperative tests: the use of routine preoperative tests for elective sur-
gery. http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG3NICEguideline.pdf. Accessed December 12, 2012.
American Family Physician www.aafp.org/afp Volume 87, Number 6 ◆ March 15, 2013
Preoperative Testing
eAppendix B. Guideline Summary for Preoperative Chest Radiography
Guideline Summary of recommendations
American College of Chest radiography may be appropriate for patients previously diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary
Physicians, 2006B1 disease or asthma
American College of Chest radiography is usually appropriate for:
Radiology, 2008B2 Patients with acute cardiopulmonary findings on history or physical examination
Patients older than 70 years who have chronic cardiopulmonary disease and have not had chest radiography in
the previous six months
American Society of Consider chest radiography for:
Anesthesiologists, Patients who smoke
2002B3
Patients with a history of recent upper respiratory infection
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Patients with cardiac disease
However, if these conditions are chronic and stable, preoperative chest radiography is not necessarily indicated
Institute for Chest radiography may be considered for patients with signs or symptoms suggesting new or unstable
Clinical Systems cardiopulmonary disease
Improvement,
2012B4
UK National Institute Chest radiography is recommended for:
for Clinical Patients of any age who are undergoing cardiovascular surgery
Excellence, 2003B5
ASA class 2 patients* with cardiovascular disease who are undergoing grade 4 surgery†
ASA class 3 patients* with cardiovascular disease who are undergoing grade 2, 3, or 4 surgery†
ASA class 3 patients* with respiratory disease
Consider chest radiography for:
ASA class 1 patients* older than 60 years who are undergoing grade 4 surgery† or neurosurgery
ASA class 2 patients* with respiratory disease who have a change in symptoms or might need ventilator support
ASA class 2 patients* with cardiovascular disease
ASA class 3 patients* with cardiovascular disease or respiratory disease
ASA class 2 or 3 patients* with renal disease who are undergoing grade 3 or 4 surgery,† or who are older than
60 years and are undergoing any surgery
ASA = American Society of Anesthesiologists.
*—ASA patient classifications: 1 = healthy patient; 2 = patient with mild systemic disease; 3 = patient with severe systemic disease.
†—Surgical grades: 2 = intermediate; 3 = major; 4 = major+.
Information from:
B1. Qaseem A, Snow V, Fitterman N, et al.; Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommittee of the American College of Physicians. Risk assessment for and
strategies to reduce perioperative pulmonary complications for patients undergoing noncardiothoracic surgery. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144(8):575-580.
B2. American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria: routine admission and preoperative chest radiography. http://www.acr.org/~/
media/ACR/Documents/AppCriteria/Diagnostic/RoutineAdmissionAndPreoperativeChestRadiography.pdf. Accessed December 12, 2012.
B3. American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preanesthesia Evaluation. Practice advisory for preanesthesia evaluation. Anesthesiology.
2002;96(2):485-496.
B4. Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. Health care guideline: preoperative evaluation. 10th ed. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical
Systems Improvement; 2012.
B5. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Preoperative tests: the use of routine preoperative tests for elective surgery. http://www.nice.org.uk/
nicemedia/pdf/CG3NICEguideline.pdf. Accessed December 12, 2012.
March 15, 2013 ◆ Volume 87, Number 6 www.aafp.org/afp American Family Physician
Preoperative Testing
eAppendix C. Guideline Summary for Preoperative Electrolyte Measurement
Guideline Summary of recommendations
American Society of Preoperative electrolyte measurement could be considered if:
Anesthesiologists, Abnormal results would change perioperative management
2002C1
Patient is at risk of abnormal results based on history and physical examination (e.g., liver or renal disease,
use of certain medications)
Institute for Electrolyte measurement can be considered for:
Clinical Systems Patients taking digoxin
Improvement,
Patients taking diuretics
2012C2
Patients taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers
UK National Electrolyte measurement is recommended for:
Institute for All patients with a known renal comorbid condition
Clinical Excellence,
All patients undergoing neurosurgery or cardiovascular surgery
2003C3
All patients older than 40 years who are undergoing grade 4 surgery†
ASA class 3 patients* with cardiovascular disease
ASA class 2 patients* with cardiovascular disease who are undergoing grade 3 or 4 surgery†
ASA class 2 patients* older than 60 years with cardiovascular disease who are undergoing grade 2 surgery†
ASA class 2 patients* with comorbid respiratory disease who are undergoing grade 4 surgery†
ASA class 2 patients* older than 60 years who have comorbid respiratory disease and are undergoing high-
intermediate–risk surgery
ASA class 3 patients* with comorbid respiratory disease who are undergoing high-intermediate– or high-risk surgery
Electrolyte measurement is not recommended for:
ASA class 1 patients* younger than 40 years who are undergoing low-risk surgery
ASA class 1 patients* younger than 16 years who are undergoing low-intermediate–risk surgery
ASA class 2 patients* with comorbid respiratory disease who are younger than 60 years and are undergoing
low-risk surgery, or who are younger than 40 years and are undergoing low-intermediate–risk surgery
ASA = American Society of Anesthesiologists.
*—ASA patient classifications: 1 = healthy patient; 2 = patient with mild systemic disease; 3 = patient with severe systemic disease.
†—Surgical grades: 2 = intermediate; 3 = major; 4 = major+.
Information from:
C1. American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preanesthesia Evaluation. Practice advisory for preanesthesia evaluation. Anesthesiology.
2002;96(2):485-496.
C2. Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. Health care guideline: preoperative evaluation. 10th ed. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical
Systems Improvement; 2012.
C3. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Preoperative tests: the use of routine preoperative tests for elective surgery. http://www.nice.org.uk/
nicemedia/pdf/CG3NICEguideline.pdf. Accessed December 12, 2012.
American Family Physician www.aafp.org/afp Volume 87, Number 6 ◆ March 15, 2013
eAppendix D. Guideline Summary
for Preoperative Urinalysis
Guideline Summary of recommendations
American Society of Urinalysis is recommended for:
Anesthesiologists, Patients with new urinary symptoms
2002D1
Patients undergoing urologic surgery
Patients undergoing surgery with implantation of
foreign material
UK National Institute Urinalysis is recommended for:
for Clinical Patients with new urinary symptoms
Excellence, 2003D2
Patients undergoing urologic surgery
Urinalysis is not recommended for children younger than
16 years who are undergoing grade 1 or 2 surgery*
For all other patients, the panel could not come to
consensus
*—Surgical grades: 1 = minor; 2 = intermediate.
Information from:
D1. American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preanesthesia Evaluation.
Practice advisory for preanesthesia evaluation. Anesthesiology. 2002;96(2):485-496.
D2. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Preoperative tests: the use of routine
preoperative tests for elective surgery. http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/
CG3NICEguideline.pdf. Accessed December 12, 2012.
eAppendix E. Guideline Summary for Preoperative
Glucose Measurement
Guideline Summary of recommendations
American Society of Consider random glucose measurement for:
Anesthesiologists, Patients with endocrine, renal, or hepatic disorders
2002E1
Patients taking certain medications or alternative
therapies (unspecified)
UK National Institute Random glucose measurement is recommended for:
for Clinical Patients older than 16 years who are undergoing
Excellence, 2003E2 cardiac surgery or neurosurgery
Patients taking corticosteroids
Patients taking diuretics
Random glucose measurement is not recommended for:
Asymptomatic patients younger than 16 years
Patients with diabetes mellitus who are compliant
with therapy
Information from:
E1. American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preanesthesia Evaluation.
Practice advisory for preanesthesia evaluation. Anesthesiology. 2002;96(2):485-496.
E2. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Preoperative tests: the use of routine pre-
operative tests for elective surgery. http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG3NICE-
guideline.pdf. Accessed December 12, 2012.
March 15, 2013 ◆ Volume 87, Number 6 www.aafp.org/afp American Family Physician
Preoperative Testing
eAppendix F. Guideline Summary for Preoperative CBC
Guideline Summary of recommendations
American Society of Consider CBC for:
Anesthesiologists, Patients with liver disease
2002F1
Patients at extremes of age
Patients with a history of anemia or bleeding
Patients with other hematologic disorders
Type and invasiveness of the surgical procedure (not specified by the guideline)
Institute for CBC is recommended for:
Clinical Systems Patients with a history of anemia
Improvement, 2012F2
Patients with a history suggestive of recent blood loss
UK National Institute CBC is recommended for:
for Clinical Patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery
Excellence, 2003F3
Patients older than 60 years who are undergoing neurosurgery
ASA class 2 or 3 patients* who have cardiovascular disease and are undergoing
grade 3 or 4 surgery†
ASA class 2 or 3 patients* older than 80 years who have respiratory disease and
are undergoing grade 2 surgery†
ASA class 2 or 3 patients* who have respiratory disease and are undergoing
grade 3 or 4 surgery†
ASA class 2 patients* who have renal disease and are undergoing grade 3 or
4 surgery†
ASA class 3 patients* who have renal disease and are undergoing any type
of surgery
ASA = American Society of Anesthesiologists; CBC = complete blood count.
*—ASA patient classifications: 1 = healthy patient; 2 = patient with mild systemic disease; 3 = patient with severe
systemic disease.
†—Surgical grades: 2 = intermediate; 3 = major; 4 = major+.
Information from:
F1. American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preanesthesia Evaluation. Practice advisory for preanesthesia
evaluation. Anesthesiology. 2002;96(2):485-496.
F2. Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. Health care guideline: preoperative evaluation. 10th ed. Bloomington,
Minn.: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement; 2012.
F3. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Preoperative tests: the use of routine preoperative tests for elective sur-
gery. http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG3NICEguideline.pdf. Accessed December 12, 2012.
American Family Physician www.aafp.org/afp Volume 87, Number 6 ◆ March 15, 2013
Preoperative Testing
eAppendix G. Guideline Summary for Preoperative Coagulation Testing
Guideline Summary of recommendations
American Society of Consider coagulation testing with platelet count for:
Anesthesiologists, Patients with a history of bleeding
2002G1
Patients with renal dysfunction
Patients with liver dysfunction
Type and invasiveness of surgical procedure (not specified by the guideline)
Also recognize that anticoagulant medications may present additional perioperative risk
British Committee Bleeding history is recommended for all patients
for Standards in Coagulation testing is recommended for patients with positive bleeding history or a clear clinical indication
Haematology, 2008G2 for testing
Institute for Coagulation testing is recommended for:
Clinical Systems Patients with a history of coagulation abnormalities
Improvement, 2012G3
Patients taking anticoagulant medications
Patients with a recent history suggesting coagulation problems
Patients needing postoperative anticoagulation (baseline testing)
UK National Institute Coagulation testing is not recommended for:
for Clinical Excellence, ASA class 1 patients* who are undergoing grade 1, 2, or 3 surgery†
2003G4
ASA class 1 patients* younger than 16 years who are undergoing grade 4 surgery†
ASA class 2 adult patients* who have cardiovascular disease and are undergoing grade 1, 2, or 3 surgery†
ASA class 3 adult patients* who have cardiovascular disease and are undergoing grade 1 or 2 surgery†
ASA class 2 or 3 adult patients* who have respiratory disease and are undergoing grade 1, 2, or 3 surgery†
ASA class 2 adult patients* who have renal disease and are undergoing grade 1 or 2 surgery†
For all other patients, including those undergoing neurosurgery or cardiovascular surgery, there was no
consensus regarding which patients should be tested
ASA = American Society of Anesthesiologists.
*—ASA patient classifications: 1 = healthy patient; 2 = patient with mild systemic disease; 3 = patient with severe systemic disease.
†—Surgical grades: 1 = minor; 2 = intermediate; 3 = major; 4 = major+.
Information from:
G1. American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Preanesthesia Evaluation. Practice advisory for preanesthesia evaluation. Anesthesiology.
2002;96(2):485-496.
G2. Chee YL, Crawford JC, Watson HG, Greaves M; British Committee for Standards in Haematology. Guidelines on the assessment of bleeding risk
prior to surgery or invasive procedures. Br J Haematol. 2008;140(5):496-504.
G3. Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. Health care guideline: preoperative evaluation. 10th ed. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical
Systems Improvement; 2012.
G4. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Preoperative tests: the use of routine preoperative tests for elective surgery. http://www.nice.org.uk/
nicemedia/pdf/CG3NICEguideline.pdf. Accessed December 12, 2012.
March 15, 2013 ◆ Volume 87, Number 6 www.aafp.org/afp American Family Physician
