No blood work before surgery?

Decades ago, surgeons would obtain blood tests, a urinalysis, an EKG and a chest x-ray prior to any surgery, even for young, healthy patients. With passage of time and additional research and experience, it became clear that such testing had no impact on the surgery or the outcomes unless the patient had certain indications or needs for pre-op testing. The currently accepted guidelines by the major anesthesiology societies do not recommend any testing (except perhaps a pregnancy test) for patients under age 50 in good health. For patients over 60 (or over 50 in some locations), or those with underlying health issues like high blood pressure/heart disease/diabetes, then pre-op testing would be appropriate. This would be determined by the surgeon and possibly by the anesthesiologist. For your situation, nothing needs to be done other than perhaps a pregnancy test (you don't want to have elective surgery if there's any chance you're pregnant). Save your time, money, and discomfort!

i don't ever order blood work UNLESS there is some sort of indication for it--something in your past medical history, family history or medication profile that would indicate something might be amiss...I would not order blood work on a 35yo otherwise healthy female having a breast augmentation. Best wishes.

I would say that getting pre op labs is a widely practiced preoperative precaution.  If you physician does not feel that it is necessary you might check with your primary care doctor to see if they would recommend checking before surgery.

Thanks for your inquiry, I cannot tell what surgery you are having.  If for example you are healthy and having a breast augmentation then you need no labs.  If you are having a mommy makeover and for example take medications, have conditions, or history of conditions like anemia--then lab work could be warranted.  Good Luck.  

Hi... thank you for the question... Is the first time i see something like this... even though every PS have their routine... In my practice i always do Blood test and X-ray before a surgery along with a Cardiologist Clearance. 

Each surgeon has their own guidlines pre\post operative. We routinely require blood work as part of our protocols however it is to the discretion of the surgeon. 

Thanks for your question. In a healthy person having a straightforward procedure with no anticipated blood loss, it's unnecessary. A pregnancy test will likely be done the am of surgery. Best of Luck!

 Thank you for your question. Typically for someone who is young and healthy, I check a pregnancy test and only order labs if there is something on the medical history that merits additional screening. Good luck 

The decision to order prep blood work (or not) depends upon multiple factors:Patient's agePatient's health problemsExpected Blood loss during surgeryLength of surgery/Type of anesthesiaYou are young, healthy, undergoing a relatively short (1.5-2h) procedure with very minimal expected blood loss (when performed expertly). Unless there were other red flags discovered in your consultation/workup (easy bruising, history of clots, problems with anesthesia, etc, etc), then blood work is unlikely to add any significant information which would change the plan. Though it is POSSible you have some underlying, hidden condition, many surgeons consider this possibility so unlikely in a young, healthy patient with "no red flags" to not be worth the invasiveness and cost to the patient. Good luck!Dr. Subbio    

I do not routinely obtain preop blood work before a breast augmentation.  I do get a pregnancy test but that is done on the day of surgery.  If you have medical problems then the situation is different.  Chest x-rays also should not be necessary on a routine basis.