Assessment of the emergency surgical patient

Assessment of emergency surgical patients aims to stratify risks of intended operation based on patient's condition and planned surgery, direct preoperative optimization and construct an anaesthetic plan accordingly. Compared to elective patients, emergency patients are susceptible to greater challenges including high aspiration risks, dehydration, electrolyte disturbances and impaired consciousness. Although only limited time is allowed, early recognition of these conditions allow appropriate intervention to minimize perioperative complications. In trauma patients, relevant history of injury regarding the type, mechanism and sites of injury is especially essential. They may present with difficult airway, ongoing bleeding and haemodynamic instability. This further complicates perioperative management where anaesthetic assessment is crucial to guide anaesthetic plans.