Chris Chiu and Kevin Consevage delve into the intricacies of pre-operative assessment, emphasizing its role as a risk mitigation strategy rather than surgical clearance. This episode offers a comprehensive breakdown of assessing surgery types, patient functionality, and the necessary pre-op evaluations and medications.

[00:00:00] Introduction to Everyday Medicine and episode objectives.

[00:00:32] Kevin's introduction and background.

[00:01:06] Discussion on the philosophy behind pre-op assessment.

[00:01:34] Breaking down the steps of pre-op assessment: surgery type, patient's functional ability, and a systems-based approach.

[00:02:05] Detailed analysis on types of surgeries and the importance of assessing surgery urgency.

[00:04:26] Functional assessment in pre-op evaluation, including ASA classification and METs.

[00:07:29] Utilizing the ACC/AHA algorithm in pre-op assessment.

[00:09:37] The role of the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) and NSQIP in evaluating surgery risks.

[00:11:38] Considerations for additional cardiac testing and when to involve cardiology.

[00:12:35] Quick hits on necessary pre-op tests: CBC, coags, liver function tests, and PFTs.

[00:14:43] Review of perioperative medication management.

[00:15:49] Closing remarks and key takeaways.