Key result
Inappropriate preoperative blood tests were performed in 31.3% of adult elective surgery patients, none of which were associated with adverse outcomes or changes in management.
Why the study?
Do inappropriate preoperative blood tests in elective general surgery affect clinical management or outcomes?
Observational
No
Do inappropriate preoperative blood tests in elective general surgery affect clinical management or outcomes?
A significant proportion of preoperative blood tests in elective general surgery are inappropriate, adding substantial costs without altering clinical management or outcomes.
May support reducing low-value preoperative testing in elective surgery; leaves open confirmation in randomized trials.
A retrospective observational study was performed in our trust in October 2010 that examined compliance, and the financial and clinical implications of performing inappropriate preoperative blood tests on adult patients prior to elective surgery, against the 2003 NICE guidelines. An unacceptable proportion of inappropriate tests (31.3%) were being performed. None were associated with adverse outcome or changes in management. Based on our results, we estimate that an extrapolated cost of pound 11.2 million is being spent on inappropriate blood tests in NHS England and Wales.
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Phoenix et al. (2012) conducted an observational in Elective surgery. Inappropriate preoperative blood tests was evaluated on Proportion of inappropriate tests. Inappropriate preoperative blood tests were performed in 31.3% of adult elective surgery patients, none of which were associated with adverse outcomes or changes in management.
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