Preoperative Assessment

If you’re scheduled to undergo surgery, a preoperative assessment or preoperative pulmonary risk assessment, is vital to ensure optimal results with a low risk of complications. At Midwest Respiratory, Ltd. in Joliet and New Lenox, Illinois, the board-certified pulmonologists offer this service to people of all ages. Schedule a preoperative assessment by calling the nearest office or using the online booking feature today.

What is a preoperative assessment?

Anesthesia and surgical stress can cause changes in respiratory (lung) function by altering respiratory drive, lung volume, and muscle function.

Preoperative assessments at Midwest Respiratory, Ltd. involve a medical evaluation and lung function testing that determine how safe it is for you to undergo surgery. This assessment helps reduce postoperative pulmonary complications, which improves surgical outcomes. 

Who is a candidate for a preoperative assessment?

Anyone who plans to undergo surgery, particularly those with lung diseases, is a candidate for preoperative assessments. Examples of lung diseases that can affect the outcome of surgery include:

• Sleep apnea
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Pleural disease
• Asthma
• Allergies
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Respiratory infections
• Bronchiectasis
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema 
• Asbestosis (disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers)
• Sarcoidosis (inflammatory cells around organs)
• Scleroderma (thickening of connective tissues)
• Restricted airway

Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with a pulmonary condition, your surgeon may still suggest a preoperative pulmonary risk assessment.

What can I expect during a preoperative assessment? 

During a preoperative assessment, your Midwest Respiratory, Ltd. provider weighs you and checks your vital signs. They discuss your medical history, lifestyle, medications, and any symptoms you have. 

You might need X-rays or other imaging procedures, lung function testing, oxygen titration to evaluate your body’s oxygen needs, or additional tests that allow your pulmonologist to identify any potential risk factors related to anesthesia or your scheduled procedure. 

This helps your anesthesiologist and surgeon know if you’re a candidate for surgery. It allows them to properly plan for the procedure and adjust your treatment plan when necessary to ensure it’s safe with a low risk of complications. 

What happens after a preoperative assessment?

After a preoperative pulmonary risk assessment at Midwest Respiratory, Ltd., your provider discusses the results with you. When you complete surgery, particularly if you have a lung condition, follow up with the Midwest Respiratory, Ltd. experts for a post-surgical evaluation, pulmonology treatment, or routine medical monitoring. 

Midwest Respiratory, Ltd. offers pulmonary rehabilitation, medication management, inhalers, oxygen therapy, breathing devices, lung procedures, and numerous other treatments that help you breathe easier, sleep better, and maintain the best quality of life possible. 

Schedule a preoperative assessment at Midwest Respiratory, Ltd. by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.