Pre-operative History & Physical Examination

A pre-operative physical examination is generally performed upon the request of a surgeon to ensure that a patient is healthy enough to safely undergo anesthesia and surgery. This evaluation usually includes a physical examination, cardiac evaluation, lung function assessment, and appropriate laboratory tests.

The patient should ideally be evaluated several weeks before the operation. The history should include information about the condition for which the surgery is planned, any past surgical procedures and the patient's experience with anesthesia.