ABSTRACT
HISTORY A 56-year-old man has been referred to the surgical outpatient department with a rightsided inguinal hernia. He has requested a day surgical procedure. The patient has type 2 diabetes and hypertension. He has no history of a myocardial infarction or angina. He lives in a house with 10 stairs, which he can climb easily without shortness of breath. He takes metformin 500 mg tds for his diabetes and atenolol 50 mg daily for his hypertension. He is a non-smoker and drinks fewer than 12 units of alcohol per week. He lives with his wife who is fit and independent.
