Perioperative management of rheumatoid arthritis. Areas of concern for primary care physicians.

The presence of rheumatoid arthritis can impose increased risks on patients undergoing surgical procedures. Affected patients often have peripheral joint inflammation, temporomandibular joint disease, laryngeal involvement, or cervical spine disease. Preoperative evaluation should also include assessment of cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disorders, and Sjögren's syndrome. Perioperative control of infection and prophylactic use of antibiotics are particularly important. To avoid wound-healing problems, preoperative discontinuation of therapy with aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and some slow-acting antirheumatic agents may be necessary. Effective management requires a team approach involving the primary care physician, the surgeon, other subspecialists, and allied healthcare personnel. To prevent unnecessary delays once the patient is hospitalized, preoperative assessment should be done primarily on an outpatient basis.