A recent study found some patients may be more or less likely to be sent for unnecessary blood test depending on which hospital they go to for low-risk procedures, according to News-Medical.
Researchers analyzed patient records of nearly 1 million Ontario patients who underwent ophthalmologic surgery or low-risk surgical procedures between 2008 and 2013.
Anesthesiology published the study.
Here are five highlights:
1. Researchers found preoperative laboratory tests were conducted before nearly 30 percent of the procedures.
2. The analysis also found high variability rates in the procedures studied. One institution had a rate of 0 percent of completed blood count tests compared to a rate of 98 percent at another institution.
3. The most common preoperative blood tests included the basic metabolic panel and complete blood count, with each test performed before 25 percent of procedures.
4. The rate of preoperative laborite tests overall decreased from nearly 30 percent in 2008 to 28 percent in 2013.
5. Many leading organizations, including the Canadian and American Society of Anesthesiologists, have published recommendations stating unless a patient has clinical indications, they do not need preoperative lab tests before low-risk procedures.
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