Important question: What blood tests do patients need prior to having surgery?

Answer 1

I believe it depends on what type of surgery do the patients undergo.

Some tests commonly performed before surgery and the symptoms that prompt doctors to order them are:

* white blood count--fever, suspicion of infection, use of drugs known to affect white blood cell counts;
* platelet count--blood loss, easy bruising, alcoholism, use of drugs known to affect platelet count;
* glucose--excessive sweating with tremor or anxiety, muscle weakness, diabetes, pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, altered mental status, alcoholism;
* potassium--vomiting, diarrhea, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, muscle weakness, tissue damage, hypertension, diabetes, use of drugs known to affect potassium levels;
* sodium--vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, thirst or fluid intake, pulmonary disease, central nervous system disease, congestive heart failure, cirrhosis.

Answer 2

Usually patients undergoing surgery require a complete blood count,a basic metabolic profile, a PT and a PTT and anything else the surgeon or anesthesia deems important.

Answer 3

You would typically get a good series of screening tests including complete blood count, electrolytes and other chemistries, renal function and some other specific ones dependent upon your general health and the type of surgery you are going to have.

Answer 4

Complete blood count, basic metabolic panel, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, urinalysis. Men over 40 and women over 50, as well as patients taking certain medications, also require an EKG and/or chest x-ray. Diabetics might require a glycosylated hemoglobin.

Answer 5

SMA 7, clotting and bleeding times, blood count.

Answer 6

Hemogram and other tests related to the specific surgical procedure.