[Value of routine preoperative tests in children]. / Valor de la rutina preoperatoria en la infancia.

ABSTRACT

To asses the value of preoperative tests in pediatric patients, a retrospective study of 722 surgical patients was undertaken. No unsuspected abnormalities or underlying diseases leading to the cancellation or postposition of surgery were found. Neither anaesthesia nor postoperatory complications were prevented by means of this procedure. We conclude that detailed anamnesis and physical examination are the most effective screening procedures and that radiologic and laboratory tests should be restricted to help in diagnosis and evaluation of the patient in emergency surgery and when the anamnesis, physical examination or a specific kind of surgery recommend it.