Usefulness of the child health check list compared with the preoperative screening test

Kim, Eun Seok; Bae, Jin Ho

Clinical Research

Pediatric Anesthesia

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2012;7(2):185-191.
Published online May 1, 2012.

Usefulness of the child health check list compared with the preoperative screening test

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea. jhbae@chungbuk.ac.kr

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.

Key Words: Check list, Preoperative evaluation, Screening test