Exploration before prosthesis surgery
Author Dr. Bence Balázs Moravcsik | 2023.08.01.
The hip- and knee replacement pre-operative tests - known as a 'screening' - are extremely important in minimising the risks during and after surgery.
What is a nodule?
A persistent area of inflammation in one part of the body is called a nodule, usually caused by a pathogen. The presence of a focus is sometimes asymptomatic, but more often causes general, non-specific symptoms such as hair loss, fever, fatigue, arthritis. Thus some joint complaints of unknown origin (pain, swelling) may be due to an inflammatory nodule elsewhere in the body.
The immune system, although unable to destroy the pathogens that cause inflammation, senses the presence of infection, which affects the whole body.
Why is pre-operative goitre important?
The presence of a nodule in the body significantly affects the healing process after surgery and the chance of complications, so it is very important to rule out the presence of any pathogens before surgery.
Foci are a particularly high risk of infection in various types of prosthetic surgery and in any surgery where foreign material or tissue is introduced into the body. Bacteria can easily adhere to the surface of foreign material, which can cause complications and inflammation.
Which tests are included in the geographic survey?
The gynaecological package is an extended pre-operative anaesthesia package that includes the following tests:
- ECG
- Chest X-ray
- Laboratory tests
- Blood group and antibody screening
- Urine bacterial culture
- Skin rejection of soft tissue (MRSA)
- Dentistry - panoramic RTG (sinus CT in justified cases)
- ENT - throat and nasal secretions culture (bacteria and MRSA)
- Gynaecology - vaginal fluid culture (for women)
- Urology (for men)
Why is a dental check-up important?
Toxic bacteria from dental abscesses can spread throughout the body, increasing the risk of post-operative complications and inflammation. In any surgical procedure, it is a problem if the patient has an inflammation due to a dead tooth, a bad root filling or periodontal disease. A dental abscess can also be a half-grown wisdom tooth and gingivitis, which is a precursor to periodontal disease.