title: Clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features in patients with major arterial vascular disease assigned to surgical revascularization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preoperative cardiac assessment may essentially contribute to estimate the operative risk in vascular surgery.This study was undertaken to depict the clinical conditions and cardiac status in patients before elective major vascular surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  143 patients with asymptomatic critical aortic abdominal aneurysm, 119 with high-grade carotid stenosis, and 138 with advanced symptomatic ischemia due to peripheral artery disease were assigned to surgical revascularization. Preoperatively, all subjects completed detailed medical history, physical and laboratory examinations, electrocardiogram, and transthoracic echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with peripheral artery disease we identified more smokers (p < 0.05), diabetes (p < 0.01), hypertriglyceridemia (p < 0.05), previous myocardial infarction (p < 0.01); the asymptomatic aortic abdominal aneurysm group had a higher body mass index (p < 0.05), diastolic hypertension (p < 0.05), and most had left ventricular anterior hemiblocks (p < 0.001). Patients with critical carotid stenosis were older (p < 0.01), with greater systolic hypertension (p < 0.01), and with a less compromised left ventricular systolic function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with peripheral artery disease were mostly affected by severe metabolic diseases and by worst cardiac conditions; patients with asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms were of robust physique, and often had left ventricular anterior hemiblocks. Patients with critical carotid stenosis were older and had less cardiomyopathies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsialtas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bolognesi
authors.affiliation: Departement of Vascular Surgery, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tecchio
authors.affiliation: Departement of Vascular Surgery, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azzarone
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quaini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bolognesi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D015897:Comorbidity; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm; ECG; cardiac condition; carotid stenosis; echocardiography; peripheral artery disease