The Role of Pre-Aanaesthesia Clinic in Modern Anaesthesia Practice

Abstract

Background: Preanaesthetic Clinic (PAC) is a specialty clinic where patients are evaluated before surgery to establish a database upon which risk  assessment and perioperative management decisions can be made.

Aims: To assess the opinion of Nigerian anaesthetists regarding preanaesthesia clinic and the possible challenges to its establishment.

Patients and methods: A three part questionnaire was filled by all anaesthetists who attended the annual Scientific Conference of the Nigerian  Society of Anaesthetists in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria 2015. Information obtained covered the demographic characteristics of the respondents and  their opinions on benefits and challenges of preanaesthesia clinic. Data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: Seventy eight  respondents completely filled the questionnaires. Forty two(53.8%) were resident doctors, 35(44.9%) consultants while only  1(1.3 %) was a nurse anaesthetist. Only 6(7.7%) respondents had PACs in their centre. Majority of the respondents (96.1%) agreed that every  Teaching Hospital should have PAC. Also, majority agreed that PAC improves the perception of the anaesthetist (94.9%), reduces the morbidity of  surgery (93.7%), surgical delays (87.2%) as well as case cancellations (89.7%). However, majority of respondents agreed that lack of adequate  anaesthesia manpower was a major challenge to PAC (68%).

Conclusion: Preanaesthesia clinic improves the quality of anaesthesia services, however, adequate manpower is a major challenge.