Before surgery, the medical team assesses whether you are medically prepared for the planned procedure and anaesthesia. The assessment may include a review of your medical history, medications, and previous test results, followed by any investigations required for your individual case.
For international patients considering surgery at Avicenna International Hospital, this process can begin before travelling to Turkey. Existing medical records and imaging can be reviewed in advance, while the final surgical plan is confirmed after the in-person examination and any additional tests considered necessary.
What happens during a pre-operative assessment?
A pre-operative assessment evaluates health factors that could affect surgery, anaesthesia or recovery. It helps the medical team identify anything that should be addressed before surgery, such as medication changes, further tests or a specialist consultation. (Royal College of Anaesthetists)
The medical team may ask about:
- current and previous medical conditions
- previous operations and hospital admissions
- previous problems with anaesthesia
- prescription medicines
- over-the-counter medicines
- vitamins and herbal supplements
- allergies and previous drug reactions
- smoking and alcohol use
- implanted medical devices
- recent infections or illnesses
- previous bleeding or blood-clotting problems
Patients should provide an accurate, current medication list rather than relying on memory. NHS and Royal College of Anaesthetists guidance also advises patients to provide details of their medicines and supplements when preparing for surgery. (NHS; Royal College of Anaesthetists)
Which tests might be needed before surgery?
The tests required depend on the operation, planned anaesthetic and the patient’s health. A healthy patient having a minor procedure may need few or no routine investigations, while major surgery or certain existing conditions may require more assessment.
| Test or assessment | What it may assess | Needed for everyone? |
|---|---|---|
| Blood tests | Anaemia, blood cell levels, kidney function or other relevant health factors | No |
| ECG | Electrical activity of the heart | No |
| Blood glucose or HbA1c | Diabetes or longer-term blood glucose control when relevant | No |
| Clotting tests | Blood-clotting function when there is a clinical reason | No |
| Imaging | The condition being treated or information needed for surgical planning | No |
| Specialist assessment | A medical condition that may affect surgery or anaesthesia | No |
NICE specifically considers tests such as full blood count, kidney function, ECG, HbA1c, and haemostasis testing according to the patient’s health and the type of elective surgery. It also advises against several tests being performed routinely when there is no clinical indication.
If relevant tests have already been completed recently, the medical team may review those results before deciding whether they need to be repeated.
Why are blood tests done before surgery?
Blood tests may identify health factors that could affect an operation, anaesthesia or recovery. The tests selected depend on the procedure and the patient’s medical history.
For example, doctors may need to check blood cell levels or kidney function before certain operations. Blood testing is not automatically required before every procedure, and the need for individual tests varies according to the type of surgery and the patient’s health.
Results are considered together with the patient’s medical history, examination findings and other investigations rather than interpreted on their own.
Do you need an ECG before surgery?
Not everyone needs an ECG before surgery. Whether it is appropriate depends on factors such as the planned operation, the patient’s cardiovascular health and other medical conditions.
An electrocardiogram records the electrical activity of the heart. ECG is recommended for some patients undergoing major or complex surgery and advises considering it in certain other situations based on age, health and the type of operation.
If a cardiovascular concern is identified, further cardiac evaluation may also be required.
Do you need scans before surgery?
Scans are not routinely required as part of every general pre-operative assessment. Imaging is usually requested when it provides information relevant to the diagnosis, the condition being treated or surgical planning.
Depending on the condition, imaging may include:
- X-ray
- ultrasound
- CT
- MRI
Existing scans may still be useful when they are sufficiently recent and relevant to the current condition.
International patients should provide both imaging reports and, where possible, the original imaging files. Previous scans can be reviewed before travel, but updated imaging may still be requested if the existing studies are incomplete or no longer reflect the patient’s current condition. Avicenna’s Medical Records for Treatment in Turkey guide explains how imaging and other records can be prepared before travelling.
Why are medications reviewed before surgery?
Medication review is important because some medicines can affect anaesthesia, bleeding, blood pressure, blood glucose or other aspects of perioperative care.
Patients should report:
- prescription medicines
- over-the-counter medicines
- vitamins
- herbal supplements
The correct plan depends on the medication, why it is being taken and the planned operation. NHS guidance advises patients to discuss whether their usual medicines should be continued or stopped as part of their preparation for surgery. (NHS)
Do not stop or change prescribed medication without medical instructions.
International patients submitting records to Avicenna International Hospital should also provide an up-to-date medication list and information about known medication allergies.
What does the anaesthetist check before surgery?
The anaesthetic assessment identifies factors that may affect the choice of anaesthesia, monitoring during the procedure or recovery afterwards. It also helps determine how existing medical conditions should be managed around the time of the operation.
The anaesthetist may review:
- general health
- heart and lung conditions
- current medication
- allergies
- previous experiences with anaesthesia
- relevant laboratory or cardiac findings
- the type and extent of surgery
Patients with more complex health conditions or those undergoing higher-risk procedures may need further assessment before surgery can proceed.
Can pre-operative tests change the surgery plan?
Yes. New findings may lead to further investigation, changes in preparation or postponement of surgery.
This does not necessarily mean that the original recommendation was incorrect. Blood results, examination findings or specialist assessments may reveal information that was not available when the first surgical plan was made.
Further assessment may be needed because of findings such as:
- infection
- anaemia
- poorly controlled diabetes
- poorly controlled blood pressure
- abnormal heart or lung findings
- medication that may affect the procedure
Whether surgery needs to be delayed depends on the specific finding, the planned operation and specialist assessment.
This is also why a treatment plan can change as new clinical information becomes available. Our guide Why Doctors Sometimes Recommend Additional Tests or Treatment explains why further investigations may be requested even after an initial treatment recommendation has been made. The article is part of Avicenna’s current International Patients content series.
Patients who are still deciding whether an operation is appropriate can also read How Doctors Decide If Surgery Is Necessary, while How Doctors Create Treatment Plans explains how information from the diagnosis, tests and individual patient factors is brought together when planning treatment. These articles are part of the same patient decision-making content cluster on Avicenna Health.
What happens if you become unwell before surgery?
Tell the medical team if your health changes before the operation.
A fever, infection, respiratory illness or another significant change may affect whether it is appropriate to proceed on the planned date.
Becoming unwell does not automatically mean that surgery will be postponed. The decision depends on the illness, the patient’s general health, the planned procedure and the type of anaesthesia.
Patients should report new symptoms even if they are concerned that doing so may delay the operation. The surgical and anaesthesia teams need current information when deciding whether the procedure can go ahead as planned.
Why do you need to stop eating and drinking before some operations?
Patients may be given fasting instructions before procedures involving anaesthesia. The exact instructions depend on the planned procedure, anaesthetic and individual circumstances.
Follow the fasting instructions provided by your own surgical or anaesthesia team rather than using a general fasting time found online. NHS guidance states that patients should be told whether they need to stop eating and drinking before their operation as part of their pre-operative preparation. (NHS)
The medical team should also explain how regular medication should be managed during the fasting period.
What should you prepare for your pre-operative assessment?
Provide information that gives the medical team an accurate picture of your current health. Complete records may also help doctors decide whether recently completed investigations can still be used.
Useful records may include:
- current medication names and doses
- known allergies
- previous operative reports
- recent laboratory results
- relevant scans and radiology reports
- cardiology or other specialist reports, when applicable
- details of implanted medical devices
- information about previous problems with anaesthesia
- records of significant previous treatment
For international patients, Medical Records for Treatment in Turkey provides a more detailed checklist covering reports, original imaging files, laboratory results, treatment history, medications and other information that may be useful before the first appointment.
How does pre-operative assessment work for international patients at Avicenna?
For international patients, part of the process may begin before arrival in Turkey.
Medical reports, laboratory results, imaging studies and previous treatment records can be submitted to Avicenna International Hospital for preliminary review. The relevant specialist can use this information to understand the patient’s condition and identify documents or investigations that may still be needed.
This pre-arrival review is not final surgical clearance. Avicenna’s current guidance states that the treating physician normally confirms the diagnosis and treatment plan after examining the patient in person and reviewing any additional test results.
A proposed operation may therefore be confirmed, modified or postponed if the examination or investigations after arrival provide new clinical information.
For a broader look at the process before travelling, patients can also read Medical Treatment in Turkey: A Step-by-Step Guide for International Patients, which covers medical record review, preliminary treatment planning, in-person evaluation, treatment and follow-up.
What happens after the preoperative assessment?
If the assessment does not identify an issue requiring further evaluation, the medical team can continue preparing for surgery.
Patients may receive individual instructions covering:
- when to stop eating and drinking
- how to manage regular medication
- when to arrive at the hospital
- what to bring
- the planned anaesthetic
- expected admission and hospital stay
- early recovery
- discharge arrangements
If further tests or consultations are required, the surgical plan may remain provisional until the results have been reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
No. Pre-operative tests are selected according to the operation, planned anaesthetic and the patient’s medical condition. Avicenna does not recommend the same routine investigations for every elective surgical patient.
The timing varies. It may take place days or weeks before a planned operation, depending on the procedure, hospital and whether further investigations or specialist assessments are required. The Royal College of Anaesthetists notes that patients having planned surgery may attend a pre-operative assessment clinic a few weeks or days before their operation.
Sometimes. Existing results may be useful when they are complete, relevant, and sufficiently recent. The treating team decides whether they still provide an accurate picture of the patient’s current health.
For international patients, Avicenna advises sending both recent and relevant older records where appropriate, as older reports can sometimes provide useful information about how a condition has changed over time.
Yes. Surgery may be postponed if a finding requires further investigation, treatment, or medical preparation before the operation. The decision depends on the findings, planned procedure, and specialist assessment.
Do not stop prescribed medication unless your medical team tells you to do so. Some medicines may need to be adjusted around surgery, while others should continue.
No. A pre-operative assessment helps identify and manage factors that may affect surgery or anaesthesia, but it cannot eliminate all surgical risk. Individual risk depends on the procedure, diagnosis, general health, test results and specialist assessment.
Usually not. Existing medical records and test results can be reviewed before travel, but the final assessment may require an in-person examination and further investigations after arrival.
For patients considering surgery at Avicenna International Hospital, the pre-arrival review is preliminary. The final treatment decision depends on the patient’s current condition, clinical examination, test findings, and specialist assessment.
Tıbbi Onaylı. Son güncelleme: 12.08.2026.
