Preoperative evaluation: Impact on early perioperative hemodynamic and respiratory complications

BACKGROUND: The impact of routine preoperative anesthesia evaluations on potential perioperative complications remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative evaluation on early perioperative hemodynamic and respiratory complications. METHODS: This prospective observational study analyzed data from patients aged 18 to 80 who underwent elective surgery between October 15, 2023, and February 15, 2024. The study evaluated the effect of preoperative anesthesia evaluation on hemodynamic and respiratory complications occurring during surgery and within the first 24 h postoperatively, as well as its impact on the length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The analysis included 1117 patients for whom complete data was available. Hemodynamic and respiratory complications were observed in 545 patients (48.7%), occurring within the first 24 h intraoperatively and postoperatively. Because no additional examinations beyond routine blood tests, radiological imaging, and electrocardiograms were performed in the preoperative period, the impact of these tests on the development of hemodynamic and respiratory complications could not be determined. There was no statistically significant association between the presence or absence of preoperative consultation and the occurrence of early perioperative hemodynamic and respiratory complications [OR (95% CI): 0.879 (0.646-1.195); P = 0.411], nor did it affect the length of hospital stay [median (IQR); 2 (3) vs. 2 (3); P = 0.245]. CONCLUSION: While the impact of routinely requested laboratory and imaging methods before surgery could not be assessed in this study, consultations that were requested did not affect hemodynamic and respiratory complications in the early perioperative period or on the duration of hospital stay. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Samsun University Samsun Training and Research Hospital, following ethics committee approval (Samsun University clinical research ethics committee (KAEK) 2.12.2023) and Clinical Trials (NCT06203171 / 04.18.2024) registration.