Pre-Op Examination Specialist

If you have a major surgery coming up in the near future, your surgeon might have recommended that you get a pre-op examination to determine whether the surgery poses any risks to your system. Aruna Medimpudi, MD, offers high-quality pre-op examinations for all of her patients at VCM Family Medicine in Aldie, Virginia. Schedule your appointment today and get cleared for your surgery by calling the office or make an appointment online.

Pre-Op Examination Q & A

What is a pre-op examination?

A pre-op examination is an assessment of your physical wellbeing to determine whether your body is healthy enough to receive anesthesia and undergo a major surgery. Your surgeon might recommend scheduling a pre-op examination in preparation for a number of different surgeries, including, but not limited to:

Heart surgery
Appendectomy
Breast biopsy
Low back pain surgery
Hysterectomy
Prostatectomy
Hip replacement
Arthroplasty of the knee
Spinal fusion
Colectomy

Dr. Medimpudi is highly skilled in assessing the wellbeing of your body, and can give both you and your surgeon the peace of mind that you’re healthy enough for your surgery.

Why do I need a pre-op examination?

A pre-op examination is necessary to determine whether your body can handle surgery. It’s also an incredibly vital diagnostic tool for your surgeon and anesthesiologist, who might use the results to individualize or alter your surgical care to better address your medical needs.

If you’re a high-risk patient, a pre-op examination also gives Dr. Medimpudi the opportunity to prepare your body for surgery, helping you achieve a better outcome with less recovery downtime.

When should I get my pre-op examination?

You typically have your pre-op exam within 30 days of your scheduled date of surgery. This might vary, however, depending on the type of surgery you’re receiving and the preferences of your surgeon. Consult with your surgeon to make sure that you’ve scheduled your pre-op exam close enough to your surgery date.

What happens in a pre-op examination?

Dr. Medimpudi tailors your pre-op exam to the particular surgery that you’re getting and your personal medical history, so no two exams look exactly alike. Some common factors amongst all pre-op examinations, however, include:

A general physical exam, which includes measurement of your vital signs
A review of your medical, surgical, and family history
A review of your current and past medication list and immunizations

Depending on your physical condition and the surgery that you’re going in for, Dr. Medimpudi might also order or conduct:

X-rays
Lab assessments, like urinalysis, blood tests, or an electrocardiogram
Cardiac evaluation
Pulmonary assessment
Nutritional assessment