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Choosing Wisely

Pre-operative Testing

Don’t perform routine pre-operative testing before low-risk surgical procedures.

Pre-operative assessment is expected before all surgical procedures.  This assessment includes an appropriately directed and sufficiently comprehensive history and physical examination, and, in some cases, properly includes laboratory and other testing to help direct management and assess surgical risk. However, pre-operative testing for low risk surgical procedures [such as cataract extraction] results in unnecessary delays and adds to significant avoidable costs, and should be eliminated.


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References
  1. Reference A : Keay L, Lindsley K, Tielsch J, et al. Routine preoperative medical testing for cataract surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012 Mar 14; 3:CD007293.