Preoperative stress testing: new guidelines.
To date, there are no well controlled trials in the literature that demonstrate an outcome benefit using stress testing as a screening procedure before noncardiac surgery. Perioperative beta-blockade significantly decreases morbidity and mortality, and thus reduces any potential benefit stress testing may have in identifying patients who may advance to more invasive treatment. Preoperative percutaneous coronary intervention has unproven perioperative benefit, and coronary artery bypass graft carries risks that often offset the risk of noncardiac surgery. Unless an outcome benefit from cardiac testing and procedures can be demonstrated in a properly designed trial, their use should generally be restricted to situations in which symptoms or other cardiac findings warrant cardiac evaluation and treatment, regardless of upcoming surgery.
Lustik
Stewart J
SJ
Department of Anesthesiology, Strong Medical Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center, Box 604, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. stewart_lustik@URMC.Rochester.edu
Eichelberger
James P
JP
Chhibber
Ashwani K
AK
D005080:Exercise Test / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000592:standards*