Preoperative patient preparation.

Patients receive maximum benefit from surgery with the fewest complications if they and the medical personnel involved in their care are well prepared for anesthesia. The importance of a thorough history and physical examination are discussed. Controversial aspects of routine preoperative laboratory testing are reviewed, as are the effects of common chronic medications on anesthesia care. The role of preoperative medications and psychological preparation are reviewed. The importance of nothing-by-mouth status and the risk of acid aspiration are emphasized. A brief discussion of preoperative optimization of cardiopulmonary disease and the definition of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status conclude the article.