Part of the popular Core Topics series, this book provides a practical guide to pre-operative assessment for consultants and trainee anaesthetists. Chapters cover comprehensive evidence-based guidance for assessing and managing patients with particular conditions, as well as perioperative risk stratification and challenges of pre-assessment. The chapters have been written by specialists in the respective clinical fields, while all content has been edited by anaesthetists to assure it is relevant and accessible to the anaesthetist in the everyday pre-operative clinic. Written specifically for anaesthetists, this resource will allow every reader to contribute effectively in a multidisciplinary approach when assessing and risk stratifying patients to ensure that they are optimised before surgery.

A. Agatha Crerar-Gilbert is a Consultant Cardiac Anaesthetist, Intensivist, and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at St George's Medical School. She has first-hand experience and understanding of the needs of clinicians in pre-operative anaesthetic clinic and is an educator and examiner for the European Diploma of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care. She has a LL.M in Medical Law and Ethics and has an interest in end of life decisions in intensive care. Dr Crerar-Gilbert has a number of scientific publications in Anaesthesia, British Journal of Anaesthesia and chapters in the Oxford Desk Reference of Critical Care Book (2008) and in the Critical Care Handbook. Mark MacGregor is a Consultant Vascular Anaesthetist. Specialist training at St George's Hospital, and a fellowship at the Alfred Hospital in Australia in 2012 and 2013 triggered his interest in pre-operative assessment. He has since been leading the peri-operative pathway for vascular patients at Ashford and St Peter's Hospital NHS foundation Trust in Surrey where he currently works.