Perioperative topics for General Physicians
How perioperative care is tested
Written for DHA, SMLE, DOH, QCHP, OMSB, MOH, NHRA and Kuwait MOH — the same GP licensing mix, not a perioperative care specialist paper.
Perioperative items are cardiac risk, diabetes fasting plans, VTE shots, and which drugs to hold — the GP’s job around a surgical admission.
Revised cardiac risk and when to delay elective surgery after MI or stenting are classic. Insulin and metformin rules appear more than obscure anaesthetic circuits.
VTE prophylaxis by risk, bowel prep debates, and post-op fever timing (atelectasis vs wound vs PE) are high-yield.
When do you postpone elective surgery?
Recent MI, bare-metal/drug-eluting stent dual-antiplatelet windows, uncontrolled thyrotoxicosis, or an acute infection that will wreck the wound.
Metformin on the morning of surgery?
Usually hold on the day because of lactic acidosis risk if GFR dips; follow the stem’s local protocol if they specify one.
Post-op fever on day 1 — first thought?
Atelectasis and inflammatory response are common. Wound infection is later. PE can be any day — match the vital signs, not the textbook day chart blindly.
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