Open AccessThe Basic Evaluation of Cardiac Risk
Author(s) -
Malcolm O. Perry,
David Calcagno
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
annals of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.153
H-Index - 309
eISSN - 1528-1140
pISSN - 0003-4932
DOI - 10.1097/00000658-198812000-00011
Subject(s) - medicine , coronary artery disease , cardiology , cad , abdominal aortic aneurysm , heart failure , aneurysm , surgery , engineering drawing , engineering
The treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery has reduced the operative mortality, but there is no consensus regarding how best to detect CAD. In this study, 160 patients with AAA were divided into 4 groups according to Goldman's weighted risk factors. All patients were evaluated for CAD by clinical and laboratory methods, including stress electrocardiogram (ECG) and radionuclide studies, and monitored perioperatively with serial ECGs, measurements of serum enzymes, filling pressures, and cardiac output. No one died, but 3.7% had myocardial infarct, 2.5% had heart failure, and 8.1% had arrhythmias. Cardiac complications were rare in patients without clinically evident CAD and in those in Goldman's classes I and II. It appears that patients without clinically detectable CAD can be operated upon with a low risk if they are carefully evaluated and monitored.