PURPOSE: Audit of the use of preoperative blood tests in elective general surgery in a district general hospital. Comparison is made with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines and recommendations. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective audit of preoperative blood tests performed for elective general surgical patients in a district general hospital over a one month period. FINDINGS: Patients attending preoperative assessment for general surgery have blood tests performed in excess of the NICE guidelines. The most frequently requested test that is performed against NICE guidelines is a coagulation screen. This was requested in excess of the national guidelines in 17.8% of cases. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This audit highlights the overuse of preoperative blood tests and provides suggestions for improving efficiency and economics in the preoperative setting. ORIGINALITY/VALUE OF PAPER: There have been no published audits assessing the current practice against the 2003 NICE guidelines for the use of routine preoperative tests for elective surgery.
PURPOSE: Audit of the use of preoperative blood tests in elective general surgery in a district general hospital. Comparison is made with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines and recommendations. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective audit of preoperative blood tests performed for elective general surgical patients in a district general hospital over a one month period. FINDINGS:Patients attending preoperative assessment for general surgery have blood tests performed in excess of the NICE guidelines. The most frequently requested test that is performed against NICE guidelines is a coagulation screen. This was requested in excess of the national guidelines in 17.8% of cases. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This audit highlights the overuse of preoperative blood tests and provides suggestions for improving efficiency and economics in the preoperative setting. ORIGINALITY/VALUE OF PAPER: There have been no published audits assessing the current practice against the 2003 NICE guidelines for the use of routine preoperative tests for elective surgery.