Why is preoperative assessment by an anesthesiologist necessary?
Many factors influence the effect of the drugs used to provide anesthesia. Age, weight, pregnancy, race, alcohol, tobacco, prescription medication, street drugs, kidney and liver disease are just a few of these factors. In some conditions, certain anesthetic drugs should not be given at all. Many medical conditions increase the risk of anesthesia. Heart disease is a common example. Pseudocholinestrase deficiency is a very rare example, found in Vysyal Chettiars around Coimbatore where there is absence of an enzyme to metabolise scoline which can lead to prolonged paralysis. Anesthesia and surgery may affect all the major systems of your body, and your anesthesiologist must know about any medical problems that you may have, so that anesthesia may be provided in the most appropriate way to maximize your safety and comfort. The Pre-Anesthetic Assessment Clinic Nowadays most patients come to the hospital on the day of their operation, and are seen by the anesthesiologist in the pre-anesthe
