Implementation of guidelines for preoperative laboratory investigations in patients scheduled to undergo elective surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact on preoperative laboratory investigations in elective surgery after the implementation of guidelines for ordering such tests.

DESIGN

A retrospective chart audit.

SETTING

A university teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

The charts of 903 patients who underwent an elective surgical procedure from each surgical specialty except cardiovascular and thoracic.

INTERVENTIONS

Implementation of guidelines for preoperative laboratory investigations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Impact on the preoperative use of laboratory investigations after implementation of the guidelines as well as patient morbidity and mortality.

RESULTS

The mean number of preoperative laboratory investigations done per patient decreased from 4.65 before implementation of the guidelines to 4.18 after (p < 0.001). There was no apparent adverse impact on patient morbidity or mortality.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of guidelines for preoperative laboratory investigations for elective surgery resulted in a reduction in the number of tests without adverse impact on patient morbidity or mortality.