Preoperative Evaluation of the Oncology Patient

This article focuses on the unique perioperative concerns of patients with cancer undergoing surgery. Importantly, not all surgical procedures are intended as cures; cancer patients also undergo surgery for noncancer issues. Many of these patients have undergone prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy that can introduce perioperative concerns. These prior treatments, unique to cancer patients, can affect their cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal, and endocrine systems adversely, and this article summarizes many important effects of various chemotherapy agents in use today.