What is Pre-op Medical Consultation and why is this needed?
Gloria Cha, M.D.
Prior to most surgery, many patients are required by a surgeon to have a pre-op medical evaluation by their primary care physicians (typically internists or family practice physicians) to improve the surgical outcomes of these patients. The goal of this evaluation is first to determine whether or not this proposed surgical procedure is indeed medically necessary and, secondly, to assess patientt’s cardiopulmonary risks and to stratify these risks to insure safety and to reduce surgical mortality and morbidity. As a pre-op medical consultant, my responsibility is to optimize the preoperative medical condition of that particular patient.
All medical surgical procedures carry additional risks due to the fact the patient undergos anesthesia and potential post-surgery complications. All surgeries carry some amount of risk. Because of this, I actively seek the factors which may put the patient at a higher than average risk for LAP-band procedure and recommend specific plans to reduce the risks.
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Obesity is a chronic disease with well-established association to multiple medical conditions, including type II diabetes, heart disease (in addition to high blood pressure), strokes, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, depression, even certain cancers and many more. Currently, over 2/3 of Americans are overweight and this number is rising rapidly.
My role is not only to discuss the benefits and risks of LAP-band procure but also to explain different bariatric surgeries available currently and their benefits and complications as well. I also assist Dr. Jayaseelan to obtain the approval of LAP-band procure for that patient by writing thorough medical consultation notes, which include detailed previous diet trials and attempts and reasons for medical necessity for that patient to submit to his/her health insurance. I also am responsible to ‘clear’ patient for the surgery once he/she has been approved. My wish is to communicate with patients for better understanding of LAP-band procedure and to make specific recommendations and educational information to each patient to improve patient’s outcome of the surgery.
Here is a little information about me. I obtained my medical degree from UTSW Medical Center and was trained at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas for internal medicine residency. I am board-certified Internal Medicine doctor and have been practicing since ‘99. I am happily married with 2 precious kids.
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