Someone Else’s Trousers

I always put my money down someone else’s trousers, so people don’t talk about me.

Want to remember what to include on an anaesthetic pre-operative checklist? Well look no further – now you’ll be even more confused!

• I
  • Identity
    • name
    • date of birth
    • wristband
• Always
  • Allergies
    • allergies
    • reactions to medications
• Put
  • Proposed Procedure
    • what do you understand about the procedure you’re having today?
• My
  • Medical History
    • do you have any medical problems?
    • have you ever been to hospital before?
    • what’s the background to you having this procedure?
• Money
  • Metalwork
    • do you have any metalwork in your body?
• Down
  • Drug History
    • what medications are you on?
    • why are you on drug X?
    • when did you last take your medication?
• Someone
  • Systems Review
    • CVS
      • pacemaker
      • hypertension
      • stroke
      • chest pain
    • Neuro
      • epilepsy
    • Gastro
      • acid reflux
    • Resp
      • asthma
      • lung disease
    • Endo
      • diabetes
      • thyroid
    • Renal
    • Liver
    • Joints
• Else’s
  • Exercise Tolerance
    • how far could you walk before you get short of breath?
    • how many stairs could you climb?
• Trousers
  • Today (current health)
    • how is your health today?
    • coughs or colds?
    • recent fevers?
• So
  • Social History
    • do you smoke?
      • how much?
    • do you drink?
      • how much?
    • other drugs?
• People
  • Previous General Anaesthetics
    • have you had a general anaesthetic before?
    • were there any problems?
    • do you suffer from motion sickness?
    • has anyone in your family reacted badly to anaesthetic drugs?
• Don’t
  • Drink/Eat (last meal)
    • when was the last time you ate and drank?
    • what did you have?
• Talk
  • Teeth
    • are those your own teeth?
    • do you have any loose teeth, caps or crowns?
• About
  • Airway Assessment
    • jaw protrusion
      • can you put your bottom teeth in front of your top teeth for me?
    • neck extension
      • could you put your chin on your chest and then look up
      • touch chin to each shoulder
• Me
  • Mallampati
    • please could you open your mouth as wide as you can?
    • now stick out your tongue?