Inappropriate pre-operative testing

In conjunction with the Anaesthesia Department we reviewed the role of coagulation testing prior to elective surgery in over 2000 patients from 2012 and 2014.

Abnormal results of possible significance were found in 0.2% of tests, with further testing not pursued in 40% of these cases. These findings support multiple international guidelines suggesting that such testing is wasteful of resources and does not contribute to patient care; ongoing feedback to ordering clinicians to change practice continues.