Ischaemic heart disease as a risk factor for general anaesthesia and surgery

Abstract

The risk of myocardial reinfarction in the patient who has suffered a pre-operative infarction is well documented. In a literature search, the cardiovascular risk implied by either asymptomatic or symptomatic ischaemic heart disease (without infarction) to the patient scheduled for anaesthesia and surgery appears to be minimal provided that hypotension, hypoxia, tachyarrhythmias and hypertension are avoided. However, a myocardial ischaemic incident prior to surgery seems to warrant the postponement of elective surgical procedures.