investigations
Last reviewed 01/2018
Investigations should include:
- haemoglobin in all females and all males older than 50
- electrolytes in all patients older than 70, and in all patients on digoxin, diuretics, and other cardiovascularly-active drugs
- ECG in all patients over 50, and all smokers over 40 years
- chest radiology in all patients over 70 years
Note that this is very similar to recommendations with any surgery; however, in this case the investigations must be performed in advance since there is often very little time on the day of admission.