Purpose of review Preoperative testing in elderly patients is performed to examine the patient's current medical condition in the context of evaluating vulnerabilities and predicting postoperative complications to ensure that all functions recover before surgery. This review focused on preoperative laboratory tests in geriatric patients. Recent findings Preoperative complete blood count, electrolyte testing, and blood chemistry can predict postoperative complications. Preoperative elevated morning/evening salivary cortisol secretion ratio, C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios, and preoperative decreased serum albumin level or 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels can predict postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Elevated brain-type natriuretic peptide or serum alkaline phosphatase levels can be biomarkers of major postoperative adverse cardiac events. Decreased preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rates and serum albumin levels can predict acute kidney injury. Hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, and low albumin/fibrinogen ratio predict postoperative complications. Hypoalbuminemia can predict surgical site infection or postoperative mortality after hip fracture surgery. A high CAR can predict anastomotic site leakage and is a risk factor for one-year mortality after hip surgery. Summary Preoperative laboratory testing helps predict postoperative adverse complications; thus, a plan of care can be initiated.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine the clinical effective dose of rocuronium for tracheal intubation using a lightwand after induction with propofol, alfentanil, and a low concentration of sevoflurane.MethodsTwenty-eight adults scheduled to undergo elective surgery lasting less than one hour were enrolled in this study. All patients received alfentanil (10 µg/kg) and propofol (1.5 mg/kg) for the induction of anesthesia. Tracheal intubation using a lightwand was attempted 3 minutes after administering rocuronium and mask ventilation with 2 vol% of sevoflurane. The initial rocuronium dose was 0.5 mg/kg. The rocuronium dose for consecutive patients, determined by Dixon's up-and-down method, was increased or decreased by 0.05 mg/kg according to the result of the previous patient. The mean arterial pressure and heart rate were recorded before induction, 1 min before intubation, 1 and 2 min after intubation.ResultsThe 50% clinical effective dose (cED50) of rocuronium for tracheal intubation using a lightwand was 0.20 ± 0.05 mg/kg according to Dixon's up and down method. Isotonic regression revealed the cED50 and cED95 (95% confidence intervals) to be 0.20 mg/kg (0.10-0.3 mg/kg) and 0.35 mg/kg (0.16-0.49 mg/kg), respectively.ConclusionsThe cED50 and cED95 of rocuronium for tracheal intubation using the lightwand were 0.20 mg/kg and 0.35 mg/kg, respectively, after induction with alfentanil, propofol, and a low concentration of sevoflurane.