Is Your Heart Ready for Surgery? What Pre-Op Screenings Can Reveal

If you’re preparing for surgery, you may be focused on the procedure itself—when it will happen, how long recovery will take, and when you’ll feel like yourself again. But before any surgery moves forward, there’s one critical factor your healthcare team pays close attention to: your heart health.

At Archbold, pre-operative heart screenings are an important part of ensuring surgery is as safe and successful as possible.

“Your heart plays a major role in how your body responds to surgery,” says William Lee, MD, a general surgeon at Archbold South Georgia Surgical in Thomasville, Georgia. “Pre-op screenings help us identify potential risks early so we can plan appropriately and reduce the chance of complications.”

Below, we break down what pre-operative heart screenings typically involve and why they matter.

Why Heart Health Is Checked Before Surgery

Surgery places temporary stress on the body. Anesthesia, changes in blood pressure, and the body’s healing response all rely heavily on how well the heart functions. Even patients who feel healthy may have underlying heart-related risk factors that haven’t caused symptoms yet.

“Many heart conditions are silent,” Dr. Lee explains. “A patient may feel fine, but surgery can reveal issues that haven’t been detected before. That’s why pre-op screenings are so important.”

By evaluating heart health ahead of time, Archbold’s general surgery team can:

• Reduce the risk of surgical and anesthesia-related complications
• Adjust surgical plans if needed
• Coordinate care with cardiology or primary care providers
• Help ensure a smoother recovery

Common Pre-Op Heart Screenings

Pre-operative heart evaluations are tailored to each patient based on age, medical history, and the type of surgery planned.

Some of the most common screenings include:

Electrocardiogram (EKG)

An EKG measures the heart’s electrical activity and can detect irregular heart rhythms, prior heart attacks, or other abnormalities. This quick, noninvasive test records how electrical signals move through the heart, helping your care team understand whether it’s beating at a normal rate and rhythm. An EKG can reveal issues such as arrhythmias, signs of previous heart strain, or patterns that suggest reduced blood flow to the heart, conditions that may not cause noticeable symptoms but could affect how your body responds to surgery and anesthesia.

Blood Pressure Checks

Consistently high or low blood pressure can increase surgical risk if left unaddressed, increasing the risk of complications such as bleeding, heart rhythm changes, or delayed recovery. Identifying blood pressure concerns in advance allows your care team to adjust medications, monitor you more closely, and ensure your heart is better prepared for the procedure.

“Blood pressure is one of the most important indicators of how well the heart can handle surgery,” says Dr. Lee. “When we address it ahead of time, we’re taking an extra step to protect the patient and promote a safer surgical experience.”

Medical History Review

Your care team will review any history of heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, or previous surgeries. Even family history plays a role.

This detailed health review helps your surgical team understand your overall risk and how your heart may respond to the stress of surgery. Conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol can affect blood vessels and circulation, while smoking history can impact oxygen levels and healing. Previous surgeries may also provide important clues about how your body responded to anesthesia. Family history matters, too.

“If close relatives have experienced heart disease, stroke, or other cardiovascular issues, that information helps us take a more proactive approach,” says Dr. Lee. “It allows us to anticipate potential concerns and plan accordingly.”

Additional Testing (When Needed)

For some patients, pre-operative screenings may indicate the need for additional testing before surgery. This doesn’t automatically signal a serious problem, and it certainly doesn’t mean surgery won’t happen. Instead, it’s a proactive step to ensure your heart and body are fully prepared for surgery and recovery.

Additional testing may be recommended if you have certain risk factors, an abnormal screening result, or a complex medical history.

Depending on your individual needs, this may include:

• Blood work to evaluate overall health, oxygen levels, and organ function
• Cardiology clearance to confirm your heart can safely tolerate anesthesia and surgery
• Imaging or stress testing to assess blood flow and heart performance, when appropriate
• Medication adjustments to better control blood pressure, heart rate, or other conditions before surgery

Pre-Op Heart Screenings Are About Preparation

Hearing that you need additional tests can feel frustrating, especially when you’re eager to move forward. But pre-op heart screenings are meant to prevent problems, not postpone care unnecessarily.

“Our goal is never to delay surgery without reason,” says Dr. Lee. “It’s about making sure the patient is truly ready and setting them up for the best possible outcome.”

In many cases, addressing heart-related concerns in advance allows surgery to proceed with greater confidence and fewer surprises.

How Heart Health Supports Recovery After Surgery

A healthy heart doesn’t just matter during surgery—it plays a major role in recovery, too. Good circulation helps deliver oxygen and nutrients needed for healing, reduces the risk of complications, and supports overall energy levels during recovery.

“Patients with well-managed heart health often recover more smoothly,” Dr. Lee explains. “That means fewer setbacks and a better overall experience.”

Questions Before Surgery? We’re Here to Help

Preparing for surgery can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Archbold, our teams work closely together to make sure every patient feels informed, supported, and confident heading into their procedure.

If you have questions about pre-operative screenings, heart health, or what to expect before surgery, the teams at Archbold South Georgia Surgical and Pre-Admission Testing are here to help guide you through the process.

To learn more about how to prepare for your surgery, contact Archbold South Georgia Surgical or Pre-Admission Testing at the Archbold Ambulatory Care Center.