Cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease

Perioperative cardiovascular complications are frequent. Patients who can climb a flight of stairs without getting short - of breath, having chest pain or needing to stop are likely to tolerate a wide range of surgeries with an acceptable risk of perioperative cardiovascular morbidity and mortality . However, at preoperative assessment it is important to identify those patients who have a high perioperative risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) and to try to reduce this risk. Patients at high risk are those with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), congestive cardiac failure, arrhythmias, severe peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease or signifi - cant renal impairment, especially if they are undergoing major intra-abdominal or intrathoracic surgery .