Coexisting Diseases & Surgery vs LabRef
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Coexisting Diseases & Surgery
This medical reference app provides detailed information on common and rare diseases, including their description, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. It also offers guidance on managing surgical patients with coexisting conditions.
- Disease descriptions
- Etiology and onset
- Diagnosis and pathophysiology
- Treatment and prognosis
- Perioperative management
- Disease-related surgical concerns
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The Vargo Coexisting Diseases & Surgery App is a clinician-built resource designed to help anesthesia providers tailor anesthetic management to the patient’s underlying comorbidities and surgical considerations. Built from years of clinical experience, the app focuses on how coexisting diseases directly impact perioperative decision-making. Organized by major clinical systems, the app allows for rapid access to condition-specific anesthesia considerations—whether preparing for a case or managing complex patients in active clinical settings. The app is structured by major organ systems and disease categories, providing focused anesthesia guidance across a wide range of conditions: - Brain / Neuro Neurologic conditions and their impact on anesthesia management - Cardiac Hemodynamic considerations, cardiac pathology, and perioperative risk - Endocrine Diabetes, adrenal disorders, thyroid disease, and metabolic implications - Gastrointestinal GI disorders affecting anesthesia planning and intraoperative care - Hematologic Disorders Coagulopathies, anemia, and blood management considerations - Liver & Biliary Tract Hepatic dysfunction and implications for drug metabolism and coagulation - Pediatrics & OB/GYN Specialized considerations for pediatric and obstetric populations - Pulmonary Respiratory disease management and ventilation strategies - Renal Diseases Kidney dysfunction and fluid, electrolyte, and drug considerations - Congenital Heart Defects Structural cardiac conditions and tailored anesthesia approaches The app is built to provide clear, focused guidance that directly applies to clinical practice: Organized for rapid navigation by system and condition Emphasis on how disease states influence anesthetic planning Practical, case-driven considerations rather than general summaries This is a tool designed to help providers quickly answer the question: “How does this patient’s condition change my anesthetic plan?” The Vargo Coexisting Diseases & Surgery App is developed by experienced anesthesia providers who specialize in managing complex cases across a wide range of disease states. The content reflects real clinical decision-making and is continuously refined to remain relevant and practical. All future updates and additions are included with a one-time purchase. There are no subscriptions or recurring fees. Designed for every level of the anesthesia care team. Not just what to do—but the physiology driving every decision. Disclaimer: The Vargo Anesthesia Apps are intended for educational and clinical reference purposes only. These applications are designed to support clinical decision-making by trained healthcare professionals and are not a substitute for independent medical judgment, institutional policies, or current standards of care. Users are responsible for independently verifying all information, including drug dosages, calculations, and patient-specific considerations.
LabRef
This medical reference app provides concise interpretations and reference ranges for common laboratory values across various disciplines. It's designed for quick access at the bedside, aiding in clinical decision-making. The app is for educational and informational purposes only.
- Interprets common laboratory values
- Covers hematology, nephrology, critical care, and perioperative medicine
- Provides concise interpretations
- Includes reference ranges
- Clean, intuitive interface
- Optimized for bedside use
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LabRef is a clinically focused reference for interpreting common laboratory values. Covering disciplines from hematology and nephrology to critical care and perioperative medicine, it delivers concise interpretations and reference ranges through a clean, intuitive interface optimized for rapid use at the bedside. This app is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of information provided by this app. About Rishi Kumar, MD, FACC ("RK.MD") I'm an adult cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and cardiovascular ICU intensivist practicing in academic medicine. I'm passionate about teaching with free, open-access medical education. Learn more on my site: https://rk.md
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: LabRef at Free against Coexisting Diseases & Surgery's $99.99. LabRef also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (100% vs 85%). Coexisting Diseases & Surgery's advantage is chart position (#44 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13 vs 26). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
LabRef is free to download; Coexisting Diseases & Surgery costs $99.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
LabRef holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Coexisting Diseases & Surgery's written reviews are positive against 100% of LabRef's.
Coexisting Diseases & Surgery ships an update monthly, LabRef every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Coexisting Diseases & Surgery | LabRef |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (29 ratings) | 5.0 (25 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 29 — better | 25 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #44 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13 — better | 26 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 212 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Vargo Anesthesia Inc | Rishi Kumar |
Customer experience
Coexisting Diseases & Surgery
LabRef
In-app purchases
Coexisting Diseases & Surgery
No in-app purchases
LabRef
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Coexisting Diseases & Surgery free?
Is LabRef free?
Which has better reviews, Coexisting Diseases & Surgery or LabRef?
Do Coexisting Diseases & Surgery or LabRef have ads?
Which is updated more often, Coexisting Diseases & Surgery or LabRef?
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