Get a Pre-Operative Examination and Risk Assessment in Brooklyn

Before you undergo some type of surgery, it is necessary to ensure that you are going to get the best results from it. This means that your health will need to be evaluated shortly prior to the time of the scheduled operation. The test is called a pre-operative examination and risk assessment.

Tests to Determine Fitness

A pre-operative examination and risk assessment tests is only for the purpose of determining whether or not the patient is fit enough for the particular planned surgical operation. It is not to find other possible health problems that are unrelated to the surgery or the condition, unless it is believed to possibly be an issue that will be affected by the surgery. This enables the surgeon to understand the status of your health and to know whether or not you are healthy enough to undergo the operation.

Tests Often Used

When you are facing heart or cardiovascular surgery, there are several diagnostic tests that could be used to determine your readiness for it. In order to diagnose your condition, you might be given:

• Electrocardiograms (ECGs) – this test is given in order to provide an analysis of the electrical activity of the heart. It will reveal whether or not the heart is working correctly.
• Cardiac Stress Tests – this test is generally only given when there are known or suspicions of a serious heart condition. This test, often taken while the patient is on a treadmill to enable the heart to work at its highest level, can help to determine the presence of a coronary artery disease, dysrhythmias, and other problems.

Possible Unnecessary Tests

• Chest x-rays – these may be recommended in some cases but are generally unnecessary, unless symptoms of a serious condition are present.
• Carotid ultrasonography – this test is used to get pictures of the carotid arteries to look for blood clots and plaque buildup. It is unnecessary in most cases, unless you have had a stroke or a mini-stroke.
• Breathing tests – this test is generally not needed for people who are not smokers or have some respiratory disease. Unless specific symptoms are present that reveal that this type of test is needed, it is unnecessary.

Problem with Too Many Tests

When tests are ordered that are unnecessary for the specific surgery, it can result in undesired problems. The main one being that there could be a false alarm, which may result in other unnecessary tests – such as a biopsy. Unnecessary tests may also be more harmful than beneficial.

In some cases, doctors often order more tests than necessary – even in unrelated cases. This results in unnecessary expenses, and can often be harmful, because there is a risk with many tests, which can be accumulative.

Dr. Abdul Malik, MD, a specialist in Cardiology, only prescribes the necessary pre-operative examination and risk assessment tests for his cardiovascular patients. He has been practicing Cardiology for more than 24 years and has trained many young doctors in a variety of hospitals in the fields of Internal Medicine and Cardiology.