Key result
Among ASA Grade 1 patients undergoing minor or moderate orthopaedic trauma surgery, 75% received preoperative blood tests, but none of the abnormal results altered clinical management.
Why the study?
Are preoperative blood tests necessary in ASA Grade 1 patients undergoing minor/moderate orthopaedic trauma surgery?
Observational (n=127)
No
Are preoperative blood tests necessary in ASA Grade 1 patients undergoing minor/moderate orthopaedic trauma surgery?
Routine preoperative blood tests are unnecessary in healthy (ASA 1) patients undergoing minor or moderate orthopaedic trauma surgery, as they do not alter clinical management.
Supports reducing routine preoperative testing in ASA 1 orthopaedic trauma patients; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish the number of unnecessary preoperative blood tests undertaken on ASA Grade 1 patients undergoing minor/moderate orthopaedic trauma surgery. DESIGN: Review of all ASA1 patients who had been operated on the trauma lists for three consecutive months. SETTING: UK Teaching Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with ages ranging between 16 and 60 years, and undergoing a minor or moderate trauma operation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The type and number of blood tests were established and any abnormal results were checked for clinical significance and whether the result altered patients' management. The cost of each blood test was calculated so that potential savings could be identified. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients (60 males, 67 females, average age 34) fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Ninety-five patients (75%) had either one or more preoperative blood tests of which 41% were abnormal but of no clinical significance. CONCLUSION: From the results of our study, we conclude that preoperative blood tests are unnecessary in Grade 1 ASA patients undergoing minor/moderate orthopaedic trauma surgery. Unnecessary blood tests can waste time, money, resources and overburden laboratory staff.
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Alazzawi et al. (2012) conducted an observational in Minor or moderate orthopaedic trauma surgery (n=127). Preoperative blood tests vs. No preoperative blood tests was evaluated on Clinical significance of preoperative blood tests (whether abnormal results altered patient management). Among ASA Grade 1 patients undergoing minor or moderate orthopaedic trauma surgery, 75% received preoperative blood tests, but none of the abnormal results altered clinical management.
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