title: Cardiac complications after elective major vascular surgery.
abstract: Cardiac complications are the major cause of perioperative and late mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing elective major vascular surgery. This review focuses on the pathophysiology of perioperative complications, risk assessment and risk reduction strategies, all related to cardiovascular disease. Patients without cardiac risk factors are considered to be at low risk and no additional evaluation for coronary artery disease is recommended; beta-adrenergic blockers may reduce perioperative cardiac events; patients with one or more risk factors represent an intermediate to high-risk population. beta-Adrenergic blockers should be prescribed to all patients and coronary revascularization should be reserved for patients who have a clearly defined need for revascularization independent of the need for vascular surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kertai
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Urk
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bax
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poldermans
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D004452:Echocardiography; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality