The Degree of Adherence of Pre-anesthetic Tests at Kasr Alaini Hospital to the NICE-UK Guidelines, and Its Effect on Decision Making & Patient Outcome: Prospective Observational Study

Routine preoperative tests aim to identify asymptomatic diseases that can't be recognized by history and examination. Identification and management of these diseases is thought to help minimizing perioperative morbidity and mortality. A large number of routine screening tests increase the cost of perioperative care. Also unneeded tests may harm the patient due to overtreatment for borderline / false positive results. Therefore, the routine use of such examinations remains controversial.

The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE-UK) guidelines for preoperative examination are the assessment standard developed by NICE in collaboration with the National Collaboration Center for Acute Care in the UK; in order to reduce unnecessary tests by recommending which tests should be offered to people before minor and major operations.

The aim of this study is to assess the degree of adherence of the current preoperative tests at Kasr Alaini hospital to the NICE guidelines, to assess the effectiveness and usefulness of the current practice of various examinations ordered by anesthesiologists during the pre-anesthetic evaluation in patients who are intended for elective surgery in the hospital and to also evaluate the cause of delay & its effect to predict postoperative complications.