Do not perform routine blood tests on patients undergoing surgery (or anaesthetic evaluation).
Routine and systematic execution of pre-operative laboratory tests is not recommended. The most recent international guidelines (NICE 2018 and ESA 2016), based on the current evidence, do not recommend their routine execution; if performed systematically they do not...
Do not prescribe periodic examinations without a specific diagnostic hypothesis.
Prescribing unnecessary tests is detrimental to both patients and the ecosystem, representing a lamentable waste of resources. With the exception of the three oncological screening programs endorsed by the Italian Ministry of Health (breast cancer, cervical cancer,...
Don’t request erythrocyte sedimentation rate to screen asymptomatic patients or as a general test to look for inflammatory states in patients with undiagnosed conditions.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is more sensitive, specific and rapid in the acute phase of inflammation. CRP should be preferred to detect both the onset and resolution of a systemic inflammatory state.
Don’t request amylase in addition to lipase if acute pancreatitis is suspected.
The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is based on persistent and severe abdominal pain, high blood lipase or amylase value, and characteristic imaging. Lipase is more sensitive and specific than amylase and remains high longer.The campaign DOING MORE DOES NOT MEAN DOING BETTER – CHOOSING WISELY ITALY is promoted by Italy’s Slow Medicine
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