Major Gyn Surgery (continued)
Preparation for Surgery
Once surgery has been agreed on, preparation is the next important step. Much of the preparation for surgery, which involves tests as well as types of bowel cleansing routines, is designed to decrease the risks of problems for the patient. Checking the heart and lungs as well as the function of important other organs, like the kidneys, liver, intestines, and bladder are to determine whether the surgery will be reasonably safe for the patient. Problems that may be found in this preparation period can often be dealt with safely but it is vitally important to find them first, so that plans can be put in place, such as special monitoring procedures or medicines to make the surgery as safe as possible. In certain cases, a specialist may need to evaluate the problem further and give their recommendations.
Pre-op tests |
Purpose |
Chest X-ray |
to evaluate the lungs |
EKG |
to check the heart |
Blood Tests |
to check other organ function & blood chemistry |
CT scans |
to check the area surgery will be preformed in & evaluate lymph nodes and other organs |
Not all these test are necessarily required for all surgeries; the age, general health, and type of cancer play a big part in what tests the doctor decides to order.
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