Pre-Op Consultations

What are the benefits of a preoperative consultation?

Even minor surgery can cause emotional stress. More complex procedures, such as hip replacement, gallbladder removal, or other elective surgeries, can physically stress your heart as well as your emotions.

Changes in heart rate and blood pressure related to anesthesia, a certain amount of blood loss, and shifts in fluid volume are expected during surgery. Each, however, increases the burden your cardiovascular system experiences during and after your operation.

A preoperative cardiac consult is essentially a risk versus benefit analysis that provides information about how surgery may affect your heart and overall health.

Unless your risks are extreme, a poor assessment doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have surgery. Rather, your cardiologist provides information your surgeon and anesthesiologist can use to help reduce the risks of complications during and after your procedure.

Who should undergo a pre-op consultation?

Anyone with a history of coronary artery disease or other known heart condition benefits from a preoperative consultation, which your surgeon may require before proceeding with the operation.

Other factors also increase your cardiovascular risks before and after surgery. You may benefit from a pre-op consult if you:

• Have a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other conditions known to damage arteries
• Are overweight or obese
• Lead a very sedentary lifestyle
• Have a history of elevated “bad” cholesterol or dyslipidemia
• Have poor exercise tolerance, which may indicate a heart problem
• Have a heart murmur, which may indicate heart valve dysfunction

What can I expect during a preoperative consultation?

The pre-op consultation provided at Advanced Heart & Vascular Specialists is heart-specific but also includes general information about your overall health. This information is gathered through a physical exam and a careful review of your medical history.

You can also expect a detailed discussion about exercise, nutrition, and other habits that influence heart health. Your cardiologist also asks about symptoms that may indicate a cardiac concern. One example is swelling in the feet and ankles, which may signal peripheral artery disease and indicate problems with your cardiac arteries.

Depending on the exam findings and medical history review, your cardiologist may request additional studies, such as an exercise stress test, to further analyze your surgical risks vs benefits.

Schedule your pre-op consultation today at Advanced Heart & Vascular Specialists today. Call the office or book your visit online.