Key result
Early engagement of a dedicated preoperative clinic and implementation of evidence-based guidelines can improve care and mitigate surgical risks for patients requiring thoracic surgery.
Why the study?
Patients requiring thoracic surgeries present complex management challenges that require timely perioperative consultation and identification of comorbidities to mitigate surgical risks.
Early engagement of a dedicated preoperative clinic for complex surgical patients can help mitigate surgical risks in thoracic surgery.
Supports structured referral timing for thoracic comorbidities; leaves open prospective validation of optimal pathways.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Emphasizing a systems-based approach, we discuss the timing for referral for perioperative surgical consultation. This review then highlights several types of comorbidities that may complicate thoracic procedures, and references recent best practices for their management. RECENT FINDINGS: Patients requiring thoracic surgeries present some of the most challenging cases for both intraoperative and postoperative management. The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has only exacerbated these concerns. Effective preoperative optimization, however, provides for identification of patient comorbidities, allowing for mitigation of surgical risks. This kind of planning is multidisciplinary by nature. We believe patients benefit from early engagement of a dedicated preoperative clinic experienced for caring for complex surgical patients. SUMMARY: Optimizing patients for thoracic surgery can be challenging for small and large health systems alike. Implementation of evidence-based guidelines can improve care and mitigate risk. As surgical techniques evolve, future research is needed to ensure that perioperative care continues to progress.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Coleman et al. (2022) conducted a review in Thoracic surgery. Preoperative surgical risk assessment and optimization was evaluated. Early engagement of a dedicated preoperative clinic and implementation of evidence-based guidelines can improve care and mitigate surgical risks for patients requiring thoracic surgery.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: