Preoperative Risk Assessment
Cardiology & Internal Medicine located in Merrillville , IN
A preoperative risk assessment determines if you’re healthy enough to undergo surgery. At Queen Of Hearts Cardiovascular & Family Healthcare, in Merrillville, Indiana, double board-certified cardiologist and internal medicine physician Stephanie Marshall, DO, FACOI, FACC, and her team use preoperative risk assessments to identify candidates for heart surgery and other operative procedures. Call the office to request a preoperative risk assessment or book online today.
A preoperative risk assessment evaluates your general health to determine if you’re a candidate for surgery. It combines various screening procedures, including a physical exam, lab draws, and diagnostic imaging to identify underlying issues that might increase your risk of complications.
At Queen Of Hearts Cardiovascular & Family Healthcare, a preoperative risk assessment includes the following steps:
Dr. Marshall reviews your medical records and completes a physical exam. She listens to your heart and respiratory rate, gently palpates your internal organs to assess their size and location, and asks about your lifestyle, including how often you exercise and drink alcohol.
Next, Dr. Marshall asks about any underlying medical conditions you have, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. There’s no cure for these ailments, but it’s possible to prevent them from worsening. If left unchecked, chronic illnesses may even increase your risk of infection and blood clots.
Before Dr. Marshall recommends heart or vascular surgery, she needs to make sure your organs are healthy. Urinalysis and blood work can provide crucial information about your liver, kidneys, and heart.
Last, Dr. Marshall orders diagnostic imaging to look at your heart and lungs. To do that, she orders an EKG, an echocardiogram, stress test or chest X-rays.
During your preoperative surgical consultation, let Dr. Marshall know about the vitamins, supplements, and prescription medicines you take. Certain drugs can interfere with the anesthesia, increasing your risk of complications.
Dr. Marshall and the team might ask you to change your prescriptions or have you stop taking certain medications, like blood thinners, leading up to your operation.
If Dr. Marshall and the team determine that you need cardiac surgery, they tell you how to prepare and schedule the procedure a few weeks or months out. During that time, follow Dr. Marshall’s instructions carefully. Take any medication as prescribed, adhere to your diet, and attend each of your checkups.
To request a preoperative risk assessment call Queen Of Hearts Cardiovascular & Family Healthcare or book online today.