Pre-Operation Check Ups

Modern anaesthetics, equipment and techniques have reduced the risk associated with general anaesthesia and surgery with healthy animals to negligible proportions. However it is not always the healthy pet that has to have an anaesthetic followed by surgery or other procedures. Therefore the potential for complications still exists. Pre-procedure check ups are the best way to assess the risk involved in any procedure where an anaesthetic is required for surgery or any other investigation. Such tests are designed to reveal any underlying problems which might have to be considered when planning the procedure.

What do these tests involve?

The amount of pre-anaesthetic/operation investigation depends on the age and health concerns of the patient and also the nature of the procedure, the time involved etc. Broadly pre-op check ups involve:

• Physical examination including relevant history taking
• Routine blood tests

Physical examination

Depending on the nature of the investigation planned a careful note of the pet's history is often needed. This is then followed by a clinical examination that includes an initial inspection of the animal, palpation (feeling with the hands) of the body's surface, skin, hair, muscles etc, and also palpation of internal abdominal organs through the body wall. A stethoscope is then used to listen to the heart, lungs and abdomen (ausculation).

Routine blood testing

During the clinical examination a blood sample will be obtained either from a vein in the neck or from the pet's foreleg. This will be subjected to two main tests:

• Complete blood count (CBC) which assesses the main cellular components of the blood, red blood cells (RBCs - erythrocytes), which carry oxygen to the tissues, white blood cells (WBCs - leucocytes) which fight infection and blood platelets which are essential for normal clotting of the blood.
• Serum biochemistry involves a series of tests performed on the serum, which is the liquid part of the blood. These tests will give an indication of efficiency of liver and kidney function and other major organs. For example, blood glucose levels are measured and will often detect early signs of diabetes. 

Urinalysis.  Sometimes a urine sample may be requested since examination and analysis of urine is necessary for a complete evaluation of the urinary system. It will provide some information about kidney function and may reveal bladder problems, crystals, etc

These initial tests are usually carried out in-house so that results are rapidly available. Depending on the results of these tests, further tests may be advised before the procedure goes ahead.

What are these likely to involve?

Sometimes imaging involving radiography, ultrasound etc. may be advised or, in the case of older animals with any suspected heart problems, an ECG (electrocardiogram) or echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart) may be considered helpful if there is any doubt about cardiac function.

Once all this pre-op information has been analysed, we are then in the best position to advise you regarding the risk of anaesthesia and the planned procedure. Unfortunately the fact has to be faced that whenever we, or our pets, undergo anaesthesia and surgery, there is always a small, unavoidable risk. However pre-procedure check ups go a long way to reduce the potential for unexpected complications.