The Medical clinics of North America
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Preoperative medical evaluation can minimize inefficiencies and improve outcomes. Thoughtful use of preoperative testing can aid in that effort, but, conversely, indiscriminate testing can detract from it. ⋯ Testing is supported only when clinical indications are present. Particularly in low-risk patients, such as those with an ASA classification of 1 or 2 who are undergoing ambulatory procedures, evidence suggests that preoperative testing fails to reduce the risk of complications.
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Nov 2024
ReviewThe Geriatric Patient: Frailty, Prehabilitation, and Postoperative Delirium.
Historically and for ease of classification, the geriatric patient has received a chronologic definition of a person 65 years and older. Chronologic age remains an independent risk of postoperative complications and adverse surgical outcomes. ⋯ The concept of prehabilitation has shown promise as a proactive approach to optimize a patient's functional, cognitive, nutritional, and emotional in preparation for surgical interventions. Postoperative delirium is the most common neuropsychological complication after surgery.
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Nov 2024
ReviewEvaluation and Management of Perioperative Pulmonary Complications.
Pulmonary complications are very common after noncardiac surgery and can be easily overlooked. If not properly screened for or evaluated these can in many instances lead to postoperative respiratory failure or even death. Decisions regarding ambulatory versus inpatient surgery, modality of anesthesia, protective ventilation and method of weaning, type of analgesia, and postoperative monitoring can be crucial to avoid such complications.
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Hospital medicine grew rapidly, creating a group of providers excelling at providing high-value and high-quality care. Consultative medicine aims to answer specific questions regarding aspects of a patient's care. ⋯ Outcomes of comanagement services are mixed, likely related to the variability with how they are structured. A successful comanagement model involves a thoughtful and detailed approach.
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Nov 2024
ReviewCoronary Disease Risk Prediction, Risk Reduction, and Postoperative Myocardial Injury.
For patients considering surgery, the preoperative evaluation allows physicians to identify and treat acute cardiac conditions before less-urgent surgery, predict the benefits and harms of a proposed surgery, and make temporary management changes to reduce operative risk. Multiple risk prediction tools are reasonable for use in estimating perioperative cardiac risk, but management changes to reduce risk have proven elusive. For all but the most urgent surgical procedures, patients with active coronary syndromes or decompensated heart failure should have surgery postponed.