Preoperative Laboratory Testing in Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery: An Analysis of Practice at Komofo Anokye Teaching Hospital

Background: Perioperative laboratory investigations should be obtained for specific indications based on the patient history, physical examination, co morbidities and the type of surgery. A test is likely to be indicated only if it can correctly identify abnormalities and will change the diagnosis, the management plan, or the patient’s outcome. Routine laboratory investigation before surgery is rampant. It seldom however changes the anaesthetic care plan or influence outcome. This research sought to find out the practice of preoperative laboratory testing at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (K. A. T. H). Methodology: This was a prospective, cross sectional study of patients undergoing elective surgery at K. A. T. H from 1st to 31st March 2014. A quantitative technique was used to effectively quantify laboratory results that were contained in a patient’s folder before an elective surgical procedure. Close and open ended questionnaire was developed and answered by reviewing patient’s folders during the pre-anaesthesia assessment. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SSPS) version 22. Results: The average age of patients studied was 50 years. Complete blood count (CBC) is the most ordered laboratory investigation at KATH (98.8%). Every patient had at least four (4) laboratory investigations done. At the time of preoperative assessment by the anaesthetist, laboratory investigations had already been ordered by the surgical team in almost all the patients studied (98.8%). The anaesthetists ordered investigations in only 1.2% of the patients. When tests ordered were compared to the Canadian Anesthesiology Society (CAS) guidelines, it was found that 54.4% of renal function test ordered had no indication, as was the case with serum electrolytes 40.4%, coagulation studies 39.9% and complete blood count 23.9%. Conclusion: A lot of laboratory investigations requested for patients undergoing surgery at K. A. T. H have no clinical indication. Members of the surgical team are responsible for ordering the laboratory investigations. Complete blood count is the most frequently ordered investigation.