Physical exams before surgery?

I have heard about hospitals doing a pre-admission or pre-surgery physical exam. Anyone know anything about those and how thorough those exams are? Do they happen anymore or do hospitals leave those exams to the patient's regular doctor? If you had one, how long ago was it and what happened?

I had surgery around six years ago to repair an acromioclavicular joint separation. I had a brief exam in the hospital before the surgery.

More and more surgeries are being performed in clinics and outpatient facilities but the pre-op exam is still very much standard protocol. The pre-op exams I've had have been preformed by my regular PCP and were less extensive than a standard physical. The main purpose of the exam is to determine there are no "surprises" during the surgery due to existing issues and my pre-op exam focused on heart, lung and prescription interaction issues.

Usually just vitals and a mini exam performed. Heart, lungs, blood pressure, temp. I've had 3 surgeries and that was all that was done before surgery.

My surgeon always wants a complete physical done. He is "old school" in that way. He is also great friends with my PCP and GYN. Lucky me, at least for the complete physical part! LOL!

At the hospital, it has always been a quick physical of heart, lungs, B/P, pulse, belly, HEENT with the pre-op attending nurse and gas man (anesthesiologist) before surgery. They also send in the vampire crew (phlebotomists) to do a blood draw if it is not done at the time of the IV placement along with a UA.

My most recent surgery was January 2004.

The surgical scars on my each knee and ankle perfectly match each other.

With all the health problems I have and have had even a minor operation can get interesting.

Three years ago I had a bunion corrected.

The pre tests involved a stress test, I have had five coronary bypasses, a MRI I was wounded in the leg they were operating on. A X-ray to be sure there was no fragments in the leg before the MRI and a full and extensive physical because of my incontinence.

This was done over two days.

The operation only took 30 min.

Pre-surgical exams are not usually as extensive as a regular physical exam, as prior to elective surgery you would have had a detailed exam as well as a multitude of diagnostic tests ( x-rays, CT scans, MRI's, Ultrasounds, ECG's etc). As others have mention the admitting person usually will just perform a quick exam of the heart, lungs, Pulse, B/P, temp usually performed by the nurse on admission. The anesthesiologist will want to listen to your lungs and heart to ensure that you a fit to undergo a General Anesthetic (GA). They may also take bloods to ensure that your HB, white cell count and electrolytes are normal.

I've had two Pre-op physicals when I was in my twenties in which I was seen by the surgeon himself (two different older men) a day or two before the surgery. The first one was fairly brief and I was only partially undressed. The second time was much more thorough, and I ended up naked on the table getting a rather rough, somewhat prolonged rectal exam. Still kind of wondering about that one.

Pre-op exams have changed radically over the years. Today, with many procedures being performed in surgi-centers, the surgeon sends a form to the patient to take to his / her family practitioner. The complexity of these forms vary widely. Some ask only for heart, lungs, BP and blood work, along with a brief history and medication list. Others are somewhat more extensive. Many years ago, the exam was done by the medical resident on the service (as part of his / her training) and was a complete workup.

How about physical exams after admission to an ER or hospital? I have been in the ER before but didn't receive an exam either time. Had to undress to a gown but once I thought about it, I was surprised that my symptoms didn't result in a general exam, even after admission to the hospital and moved out of the ER to a regular hospital room.

Many years ago, just before some extensive surgery, I went to an ER after some alarming symptoms. I think since they were so obviously serious (coughing up blood) the doctors didn't waste much time in doing any kind of lengthy exam (just steth and heart, blood pressure) and got me straight off to radiology.

A few days later I was operated on, but except for blood tests, cat scan and a few other minor things and pre-op shaving and a lousy Fleet, I can't really recall anything in the way of a physical exam during that time. Not like it's thought of in Medfet terms in any case. No nudity, nothing genital involved either.

Of course there are other things on one's mind at times like these.

I've never had a physical before any of my surgeries at the ER or local surgery centers (out patient / 23 hour suites). Maybe my temperature and BP taken when I arrive, but those aren't even always done. However, I have been sent to get an EKG before the surgery a couple of times.

I had through examation before my surgery at 11 years. Nurse undressed me in my hospital room and put me onto stretcher and took me to exam room where doctor waiting for me to exam me.

I have only been examined in the regions to be worked on. Two hernia repair surgeries several years apart, both pre-exams concentrated on the groin region. I remember after the first hernia surgery the resident surgeon palpating my testicles in the recovery area and him saying something to the effect of I want to be sure your testes did not go into body. I was soooo groggy I remember it fondly but was too anesthesized to obtain any pleasure at that moment. No biggy...I was happy I woke up after surgery :-)

This latest prescreening before my total hysterectomy involved a blood draw to determine my PT/INR to make sure my blood was not too thin, also blood taken to cross match me in case I needed blood during surgery and since I couldn't urinate in time they also checked my blood to make sure I wasn't pregnant. Besides for the blood draws it was just BP temp and listening to my heart and lungs. This was done in the hospital about an hour before my scheduled surgery time.

To add to my previous post, most of my surgeries have been elective at a local surgery center. Usually, but not always, I have been sent ahead of time to get an EKG to make sure my heart can withstand the surgery. Maybe once or twice I've also had blood work done, but never anything else.

Recently I had major surgery scheduled at the hospital and was required to spend multiple days there after my surgery. I'm not sure who required it (my general surgeon, the hospital, or the hospitals anesthesiologist) but I was sent to the hospital to complete a pre-admission testing clinic. They have an NP who does this testing full time. She told me it was mostly done from the anesthesiologist point of view, to make sure you won't have any problems being put under or woken up. She said the exam focuses on the heart and lungs. It mostly focused on health history. I spent probably 20-30 minutes going over my history and my family medical history with her. I think she took my b.p. and listened to my heart and lungs. Since I have never smoked, she didn't send me for a chest x-ray, but I think it would have been included for smokers. Then two technicians came and took multiple blood samples and gave me an EKG. I had to remove my shirt for the EKG, but that's all the undressing I was required to do. Once they left, the NP went over the pre-op instructions I was given and what I needed to do leading up to the surgery. They didn't test me, but I've heard of a lot of hospitals pre-testing for MRSA by doing swabs. After the surgery while I was still in recovery, two nurses stripped me naked and looked at every square inch of my body while I was still in bed. They kept telling me that they had to look at and examine my skin. I'm not entirely sure what that was about... When they were done they put a gown on me and took me up to my room.

Before i had surgery to remove my gallbladder, I was sent to the surgery center for a per-surgery exam. They drew blood to check for a stuck gallstone they said if one was stuck, it would require an extra procedure. They then performed an EKG and listened to my lungs. The exam was one or 2 days before the surgery.

Our pre- surgery screening was mostly about meds. We had recent bloodwork which was comprehensive. They told us to hold off on some of the meds and OTC stuff the day before surgery. Don’t want your BP to drop or anything that could cause bleeding. We had an endoscopy about thee months earlier that included an ekg so they didn’t do that. We had an echocardiogram on file. During the surgery prep they swabbed the nose for MRSA. The surgeon asked for a CT scan which was negative. Pretty straight forward.

I had 2 hernia surgeries. The doctor had nurse practitioners whose job was doing physicals. Both were quick but checked eye ear nose throat, abdomen, neurologic, even a genital/rectal exam as long as they were there checking my hernias. When I had a retinal re-attachment surgery, I was sent out to an urgent care center; doctor took her time; head, neck (carotid arteries) heart/lungs. Checked the hernia surgeries were okay. Told me the slight bulge I felt on the old one wasn't enough to go back for a revision. Even checked my weak knee.

Cataract surgery. Eye surgeon himself did a 'fake physical' Staff confirmed earlier I had no meds, no current medical problems, took my temp and BP. He pretended to listen to my heart and lungs, through my shirt. That was all.

I’ve had a few surgeries and practices vary. I had knee surgery in high school and had to get a physical beforehand and then some basic pre-op checks.

For my most recent (minor outpatient) surgery I had to get a physical before surgery by an older physician at the hospital. Very basic stuff but he did an EKG (no genital or rectal).

Another time was just a quick pre-op check by a PA.

I've had an exam before all of my surgeries. It's usually very basic, just vitals, and a once-over.

I had to get clearance from my internist prior to cataract surgery. Very brief visit and the OP center which is a free standing facility, but connected to a major hospital required an EKG prior to having the surgery. Every facility had its own requirements, some clear you with a pre op visit by a NP, some require blood tests, a chest x ray etc. depending on the facility and type of surgery and anesthesia being done.

I was really nervous before my thyroidectomy in Feb 2021. When they checked my blood pressure it was high at 162/90. The anesthesiologist came in again and talked to me. He said I was pretty healthy and had nothing to worry about. They rechecked my blood pressure but I didn't see that reading. I was also given an EKG.

For most times I have had surgery they do a consult exam like the week before depends on the surgery and how Indepth the examine. I think they want to rule out person being to unhealthy for surgery? I am not a health worker but just my nickel advice

My last surgery, some two years ago was for appendicitis.

Apart from checking that I did indeed have appendicitis as I suspected when checking into the hospital, I was only CAT scanned (I think) and then operated on. In fact, I was still dressed in my street clothes in the hospital bed before they took me to the ER. I felt too awful to bother changing and besides, I had nothing with me.

It was during a COVID surge and the staff was overworked and short of hands. But in any case, other than determining I had what I thought I had through a quick exam of the abdomen on my arrival and a scan and I surmise some bloodwork, I was not examined prior to surgery.

I was tested for COVID but the results hadn't come back before they operated on me. I guess they hoped for the best. I was told it was negative a few hours after I woke up after surgery.

I had laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair at the end of August 2022. The surgery was scheduled for a Monday, and I had to report to the same surgery center the Friday before the surgery for a “medical clearance.” I guess you could call it a physical exam of sorts, in that it consisted complete bloodwork, urinalysis, COVID and MRSA tests, EKG, meeting with a cardiologist PA who listened to my heart, an ultrasound of my heart because I have slightly elevated blood pressure that is well controlled by medication. The whole thing took about 2 hours, including wait times in between tests. I got cleared for the surgery (which was a breeze) and am grateful to have had the thorough “going over.”

Some months before actually having minor surgery, just a quick checklist of questions, and an MRSA swab of my nose, and then the nurse asked me to stand up and slightly loosen my trousers, but not lower them or anything, and he put a swab down the side of my groin. I was expecting more for that!

he put a swab down the side of my groin.

That sounds odd. Whatever would a doctor swab for in that location on the body? I cannot think of anything.

Anyone more knowledgeable?

It is a requirement that a physician (typically nurse practitioner or PA) that works for the hospital confirms you are fit for a planned surgery after your own doc signs off for the surgery. It is generally some labs, BP, pulse, weight, height and endlessly going over all the questions asked 20 times before: medications, surgical history, hospitalizations, other conditions, etc. They will usually do an EKG, unless they want you to see your own cardiologist for clearance. Aside from that, I have never removed clothing. In fact, the last time, aside from the NP listening to my lungs and heart, I wasn't otherwise touched.

Oh, and a seperate trip for a covid test within 48 hours of surgery (this changes arbitrarily).

endlessly going over all the questions asked 20 times before: medications, surgical history, hospitalizations, other conditions, etc.

Now that medial personnel can access all your medical records electronically, there is no need for them to ask you much anymore. All they have to do is access your medical history and it is all there, including the results of prior tests and lab work which you are certain not to remember much about.