Usefulness of the child health check list compared with the preoperative screening test.
- Author:
Eun Seok KIM
1
;
Jin Ho BAE
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea. jhbae@chungbuk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Check list;
Preoperative evaluation;
Screening test
- MeSH:
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures;
Child;
Child Health;
Humans;
Mass Screening;
Parents;
Physical Examination;
Surgical Procedures, Minor
- From:Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
2012;7(2):185-191
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Recently, the value of routine preoperative screening tests has been questioned, especially in healthy children scheduled for elective minor surgery. We have assumed that sufficient history taking and physical examination could replace these tests. We prepared child health check lists for the parents to answer. Then, we compared the usefulness between preoperative screening tests and child health check lists. METHODS: Group A included 67 children, the parents of whom had answered the child health check list, and group B included 63 children who underwent routine preoperative screening tests. Each group was divided into ambulatory surgery patients (groups A1, B1) and patients admitted for surgery (group A2, B2). Comparison values between the two groups included preoperative evaluation time, operation time, anaesthesia time and recovery time. Also, clinical side effects were evaluated. RESULTS: The operation time, anaesthesia time and recovery time in each group showed no statistical differences. However, there were statistical differences of preoperative evaluation time. Preoperative evaluation time was significantly decreased in groups A1 (4.0 +/- 1.2), and A2 (5.4 +/- 1.3) compared to groups B1 (7.6 +/- 1.7), and B2 (8.6 +/- 1.8). CONCLUSIONS: The use of a child heath check list saved time in the preoperative evaluation and saved the effort of the anaesthesiologist. It also decreased the discomfort of the children by omitting the invasive procedure and it reduced the medical costs.
