[Outpatient preoperative examination by the anesthesiologist. I. Fewer procedures and preoperative hospital days].

Objective: To study the effect of the reorganisation of the preoperative screening on the volume of laboratory and function tests, and on preoperative hospital days.

Setting: General Hospital De Weezenlanden, Zwolle, The Netherlands.

Design: Retrospective study.

Method: In The Netherlands the surgeon is responsible for the preoperative screening (anamnesis and general examination). In 1992 the preoperative screening was reorganised and it was carried out in the outpatient department under the responsibility of the anaesthesiologist. Laboratory and function tests were only performed if indicated. Data on 3122 patients, operated in 1991, were compared with the data on 3258 patients from 1992. Multiple regression analysis and chi-square test were used.

Results: The proportions of the patients subjected to laboratory tests, ECG or a chest X-ray decreased from 90%, 55%, and 50% respectively in 1991 to 53%, 43% and 10% in 1992 (p < 0.05). Admission on the day of surgery increased from 13% in 1991 to 21% in 1992 (p < 0.01). Clinical preoperative evaluation with admission more than 1 day before surgery, decreased from 5% in 1991 to 4% in 1992 (p = 0.02). The mean duration of the hospital stay before the operation decreased from 0.79 day per patient in 1991 to 0.65 in 1992 (p = 0.02).

Conclusion: If the preoperative screening is carried out by the anaesthesiologist, all the patients have the opportunity to meet the anaesthesiologist before the operation. The number of preoperative hospital days can be reduced by outpatient preoperative screening. Laboratory and function testing on only if indicated reduces the volume of the laboratory tests, ECGs and chest X-rays.