Preoperative Assessment and Medication
This is usually performed 2-3 days prior to the scheduled operation.
This is to determine the potential for exacerbation of cardiovascular
abnormalities in the patient under anesthesia. Tests routinely performed
are Chest X-Ray, Thyroid function blood tests, as well as the standard
Clotting and Whole Blood Count tests, to assess the patient's condition
prior to admission.  Based on the results of the assessment, the attending
anesthesiologist will determine the pre-medication required and selection
of the volatile anesthetic agent to be used for induction and the maintenance
of the patient anesthesia during surgery.  Examples of pre-medication taken
the evening before or the morning of the surgery include Fentanyl, Norcuron,
Robinal, Versed, and perhaps a combination thereof.  Some of these perform
well in bringing the patient to the proper degree of relaxation just prior to
commencing surgical anesthetic induction.  Atropine is used to control any
depressed levels of heart rate encountered, and is usually administered only
when such a bradycardia occurs.