Pre-operative Anaesthetic Assessment: A guide for Patients
This page provides important information about the pre-operative anaesthetic assessment. This is an important step prior to you undergoing anaesthesia of any form, to help your anaesthetist determine the most approriate and safest way to deliver the best anaesthetic care to you.
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You may be asked to complete a questionnaire/screening form in advance of a discussion with an anesthetic practitioner. It is important to fully disclose all medical conditions to help your anaesthetist deliver safe care. Avoiding disclosure of any medical condition may put you at greater risk of complications during an aanesthetic.
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The anaesthetic assessment may normally be conducted face to face, by telephone, or sometimes via telehealth.
The Process
Your anaesthetist will check your identity, and also check what surgical procedure you are expecting to undergo. This is an important step to help prevent wrong site surgery - it does not mean your anaesthetist doesn't know what procedure you are due to undergo!
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Before discussing with you, your anaesthetist will likely have already examined your available medical and anaesthetic records. They may also review records and test results from other healthcare institutions to help gain all the required information to deliver the safest possible care.
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Your anaesthetist will likely ask you specific questions on the following areas:
1. Your general health
2. Your heart health
3. Your respiratory/breathing health
4. Information about any acid reflux/heartburn you may experience
5. Your exercise tolerance
6. Any medications you take
7. Any allergies you have
8. Any anaesthetics you've had in the past, including any issues with the anaesthetic
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Your anaesthetist will examine you, paying particular attention to your mouth and airway. They will also likely examine your heart and lungs. They may request further tests or investigations, for example blood tests or an electrocardiogram (ECG). Occasionally you may be referred to another medical professional for further management, for example a cardiologist (heart doctor).​
Anaesthetic Consent
Your anaesthetist will explain the options for the different anaesthetic techniques available for your surgery with you, including the risks and benefits of each. This is known as 'informed consent', and simply put is the process of giving you all the information you require to make an informed decision. It is important to be aware that simply 'going to sleep' (i.e. general anaesthesia) is not always the best technique for each patient, and on occasion can present unacceptable risks, meaning that other techniques (i.e. not a general anaesthetic) may be more appropriate!