ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Preoperative screening laboratory tests including forced expiratory spirometry (FES) are performed either to determine the progress of a known disease or to detect unsuspected abnormalities in asymptomatic patients. The former is generally accepted, while there is often dispute about the latter indication. But the routine ordering of preoperative screening tests is currently common practice. Age is used as a criterion to select preoperative tests for asymptomatic elderly patinets. FES and arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) are used currently as a preoperative screening test. The objective of the present study is to assess the value of FES and ABGA as a preoperative screening test in elderly patients undergonig surgery. METHODS: We have done a retrospective review of the medical records to assess the value of FES and ABGA as a routine preoperative screening tests in 94 asymptomatic elderly patients (> or = 65 years) undergoing surgery within 6 months recently. RESULTS: A retrospective review of the medical records was that the results of FES revealed the stage of early aymptomatic obstructive pulmonary disease and those of ABGA were within lower normal limit. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirms the forced expiratory spirometry is a valuable preoperative screening test in the elderly patients with clinial assessment during the preanesthetic visit.