PATIENT INFORMATION
What if the assessment finds a medical problem I did not know about?
Sometimes the pre-anaesthesia assessment brings an unrecognised problem to attention. Examples include high blood pressure, anaemia, an abnormal blood glucose result, a heart murmur, an irregular heart rhythm or symptoms suggesting sleep apnoea. The next step depends on the finding and on how urgent the surgery is.
What the team may do
- Repeat the measurement, since a single reading can be affected by stress, pain or recent activity
- Request a test to understand the finding
- Speak to your surgeon about timing
- Ask for a specialist opinion
- Advise follow-up with your usual doctor after surgery
Why finding it now can help
Finding a problem before surgery gives the team time to understand whether it matters for the operation and how it should be managed. Some findings, such as newly diagnosed diabetes or high blood pressure, are also important for your long-term health.
What a single result means
A single abnormal value does not always establish a long-term diagnosis. The purpose of the pre-anaesthesia setting is to recognise what may matter now, arrange appropriate confirmation or follow-up, and make the perioperative plan safer.
What to ask
- Does this finding affect my operation?
- Who will follow it up after surgery?
- Should I share this result with my usual doctor?
Keep a copy of any new result so your usual doctor can review it.