Question:
Is it true?
My surgery is scheduled for Nov.7 (wahooo!), I'm going for preop tests on Monday which is Oct.28. This girl at work swears to me that preop tests has to be done within one week of surgery, no more than that or the tests will expire. I told her that my surgeons office had faxed in the preop test check list to my PCP and that they didn't say anything about that one week experation that she is talking about. I know I could call my surgeons office and ask, but I rather ask here and find out if this is true. Has anybody else heard of this? — Jessica Hernandez (posted on October 24, 2002)
October 24, 2002
I had my preop test almost one month before my surgery. They to schedule
ahead of time so that if the doc needs something you have time to get it
done so you don't loose your date.
Hope that helps : )
— Peggy A.
October 24, 2002
My surgeon requires pre-op tests to be scheduled within 3 weeks of surgery
in order for the results to be still valid on the day of surgery. I don't
think you have anything to worry about. My pre-op tests were done on 7/1
and my surgery was done on 7/17. Best of luck with your surgery...JR(open
RNY -96 lbs)
— John Rushton
October 24, 2002
You should ask your surgeon because it obviously varies by doctor. My
pre-ops were done in February and my surgery was in May. I didn't have to
have anything done closer to surgery date.
— KelBurt
October 24, 2002
I had my heart test and gall bladder ultrasound done almost 2 months ago.
My surgery is Monday November 11, and I will have all my blood work and
other tests the Friday before. All doctors are different.
— dkinson
October 24, 2002
Some bloodwork is imperative that it be within one week of surgery others
it does not seem to matter. That's why it is best to ask the surgeon who
orders it and who is also the one that would put the halt on your surgery
date if you are not in compliance.
— Sue A.
October 24, 2002
My surgeon requires pre-op tests to be within 14 days of surgery. I think
the previous poster is correct in saying that it must vary from surgeon to
surgeon.
— Rhonda J.
October 24, 2002
My surgeon has his patients get their pre-op tests about a month before
their surgery date. This way there is plenty of time to treat H-Pylori if
you have it and do additional testing if something shows up in your blood
work. Every surgeon is different, so I wouldn't worry.
— Tanya B.
October 24, 2002
I had tests done several weeks prior to surgery. Several says before I was
pre-registered at the hospital and more blood work was done at that time.
— Laurie C.
October 24, 2002
Let me qualify my answer below (tests scheduled within 3 weeks of surgery
date). This pertained to my blood tests, chest x-ray and pulmonary
function test only. The abdominal ultrasound and my cardiac clearance
were outside of that window. I was too big for the machine for the upper
GI so they skipped that test...JR
— John Rushton
October 24, 2002
Your friend may be confusing two separate things. Most of my pre op tests
were done well over a month before the surgery - gall bladder ultrasound,
cardiac clearance, psych eval, etc. But when I got my surgery date, the
hospital scheduled "pre-admittance" tests the week before my
surgery. That turned out to be chext xrays, some questions that were
mostly for the benefit of the anesthesiologists and, I think, some more
bloodwork.
— sandsonik
October 25, 2002
Jessica, one thing to consider, MOST insurance companies only cover pre-op
testing done within 72 hrs of surgery...My dtr required my pre-op testing
done 10 days prior, however, my ins would only cover 72hrs in advance. As
such, I did my pre-op testing Monday before my Thursday surgery. Good
Luck!
— heathercross
October 25, 2002
Heather...have you had experience with more than one insurance company to
make such a statement that most insurance companies only cover pre-op test
done within 3 days of surgery.
<p>
I have had many different insurance companies since I entered the workforce
at the age of 18 back in 1976 and I have <b>never</b>
encountered such a restriction as the one you described.
— John Rushton
October 25, 2002
My surgeon allows the tests to be up to a month before surgery, except the
radiology tests, which are fine even longer than that. I had bloodwork,
ABG, PFT, etc done in May and surgery in June. Then he did a quick blood
test the morning of surgery to confirm that I had no infections brewing.
As far as insurance goes, if your doctor requires the labs as part of
pre-surgery, your insurance will pay for it whenever the testing is done.
— cjabates
October 25, 2002
The length of time varies from institution to institution. I've seen
policy vary from 3 days to 30 days. Additionally, the type of pre-op
testing also has some timing limitations--for instance urine testing has to
be more recent than a chest xray or EKG--both of those have a longer shelf
life I guess!! Good Luck
— Wannabe A.
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