RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the criteria employed for the requesting of preoperative tests among maxillofacial surgeons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty maxillofacial surgeons working in Aracaju (Brazil) received a questionnaire to fill out. The study inquired about the practice of requesting preoperative tests for healthy patients scheduled to undergo elective surgery. RESULTS: Most of the surgeons interviewed requested tests that are not recommended for the case in question. The highest frequency of requests was a complete blood count, coagulation test, blood glucose test and chest radiograph. CONCLUSION: The absence of strict rules for the requesting of preoperative tests causes uncertainty and a lack of criteria regarding pre-surgical conduct. It was not possible to clearly define the criteria used by surgeons for requesting such tests, as the clinical characteristics of the hypothetical case presented suggest a smaller number of tests.
