Stepwise Approach to Pre-operative Cardiac Assessment
Adapted from Fleisher et al. Circulation. 2009 Nov 24;120(21):e169-276[1]; HR, Heart rate
§,∧ Noninvasive testing is not useful for patients with no clinical risk factors undergoing intermediate-risk or low-risk noncardiac surgery (AHA guidelines Class III, Level of Evidence: C).
¶Clinical risk factors: Ischemic heart disease, compensated or prior heart failure, diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, and cerebrovascular disease
Cardiac Risk Index
Original / Goldman Index
Goldman et.al devised a cardiac index for preoperative evaluation in 1977. [2]
Estimated Energy Requirements for Various Activities
The metabolic equivalent of task (MET), or simply metabolic equivalent, is a physiological concept expressing the energy cost of physical activities[4] as multiples of resting metabolic rate (RMR) and is defined as the ratio of metabolic rate (and therefore the rate of energy consumption) during a specific physical activity to a reference rate of metabolic rate at rest, set by convention to 3.5 ml O2·kg-1·min-1 or equivalently 1 kcal·kg-1· h-1 or 4.184 kJ·kg-1· h-1. By convention 1 MET is considered as the resting metabolic rate obtained during quiet sitting[5][6] . MET values of physical activities range from 0.9 (sleeping) to 18 (running at 17.5 km/h or a 5:31 mile pace).
Calculating the Weekly Energy Expended in Recreational-time Physical Activity using METs (Metabolic equivalent task) [7].
Physical Activity
MET
Light Intensity Activities
< 3
Sleeping
0.9
Watching television
1.0
Writing, desk work, typing
1.8
Walking, 1.7 mph (2.7 km/h), level ground, strolling, very slow
2.3
Walking, 2.5 mph (4 km/h)
2.9
Moderate Intensity Activities
3 to 6
Bicycling, stationary, 50 watts, very light effort
3.0
Walking 3.0 mph (4.8 km/h)
3.3
Calisthenics, home exercise, light or moderate effort, general
3.5
Walking 3.4 mph (5.5 km/h)
3.6
Bicycling, <10 mph (16 km/h), leisure, to work or for pleasure
High Risk - Ischemia induced by low level of exercise
< 4
< 100 or 70% age pred. max
Intermediate Risk - Ischemia induced by moderate exercise
4 - 6
> 100 - 130 or 70 - 85% of age pred. max
Low Risk - No ischemia or ischemia induced at higher level of exercise
> 7
> 130 or > 85% of age pred. max
Inadequate test : In patients undergoing non cardiac surgery ,the inabilty to exercise to a level of 4 - 6 METs without out ischemia should be considered as inadequate test. (Stage II Bruce protocol)
Pre-operative 12 Lead ECG
The time frame for ECG testing is fixed, it can be done within 30 days of planned surgery when indicated.
The resting 12-lead ECG did not identify increased perioperative risk in patients undergoing low-risk surgery.
In patients with coronary disease, the resting 12-lead ECG may have contains important prognostic information relating to long-term morbidity and mortality.
Non invasive Stress Testing (NST)
These are used for preoperative evaluation of patients undergoing non cardiac surgery. These are used in patients who cannot exercise.
Increasing blood supply (hyperemic response) by vasodilators
Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography
Increasing doses of supratherapeutic doses of dobutamine are infused , which increases myocardial contractility and heart rate. This leads to significant coronary artery stenosis which can be identified by regional wall-motion abnormalities within the distribution of the affected vessels.
Perioperative cardiac risk is directly proportional to the myocardium at risk detected by the extent of reversible defects found on imaging.
It is of high clinical value when used for selective population of high clinical risk.
In Left Bundle-Branch Block
Exercise may at times induce reversible septal defects in the absence of LAD disease. Specificity of exercise myocardial perfusion imaging in presence of LBBB is low.
Pharmacologic strss testing with perfusion scintigraphy or DSE is preferred over exercise stress testing.
Perioperative Revascularization Therapy
Extensive ischemia is a risk factor for increased peri-operative events
Pre-op coronary revascularization does not prevent death or MI. [8]
Pre-operative CABG
Patients who have high-risk coronary anatomy and in whom long-term outcome would likely be improved by CABG should generally undergo coronary revascularization before a noncardiac elective vascular surgical procedure or noncardiac operative procedures of intermediate or high risk. [9]
The cumulative mortality and morbidity of both the coronary revascularization procedure and the noncardiac surgery should be weighed carefully. The individual patient’s overall health,functional status, and prognosis have to be taken into consideration. [10]
Pre-operative PCI
Prophylactic preoperative PCI in non cardiac surgical procedures is of no value in preventing perioperative cardiac events. [11]
Unscheduled noncardiac surgery in a patient who has undergone a prior PCI presents special challenges, particularly with regard to management of the dual-antiplatelet agents required in those who have received coronary stents.
Following flowchart depicts the approach based on expert opinion[12] in patients who have undergone successful coronary intervention with or without stent placement before planned or unplanned noncardiac surgery.
Prior PCI
Balloon Angioplasty
Bare Metal Stent
Drug
Time since PCI < 14 days
Time since PCI > 14 days
Time since PCI > 30-45 days
Time since PCI < 30-45 days
Time since PCI < 365 days
Time since PCI > 365 days
Delay for elective surgery
Proceed to operating room with aspirin
Delay for elective surgery
Proceed to operating room with aspirin
Perioperative Medical Therapy
Beta Blockers
Key points about perioperative beta blocker therapy
Start well before surgery. ( minimum of 1 week - don't start on the day of surgery)
Use is in high or intermediate risk population only.
Titrate dose to heart rate and blood pressure starting with a low dose. (Fixed doses shouldn't be used)
Long acting betablockers are better to use.
If intra-operative heat rate goes above 80 start IV administration.(Look for alternative causes of tachycardia)
For more information on perioperative betablocker therapy click here.
Statins
Statins have protective effective on cardiac complications in non cardiac surgery, but the dosage and the target levels are unclear.
Utilizing the perioperative period as an opportunity to impact long-term health, consideration should be given to starting statin therapy in
patients who meet National Cholesterol Education Program criteria.
Alpha 2 Agonists
Strong evidence is lacking for the recommendation of clonidine for blood pressure control.
Administration of clonidine had minimal effects on hemodynamics and post operative mortality.
2009 ACC/AHA Guidelines on Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation and Care for Noncardiac Surgery: Preoperative Cardiac Assessment (DO NOT EDIT) [13]
" 1. Patients who have a need for emergency noncardiac surgery should proceed to the operating room and continue perioperative surveillance and postoperative risk stratification and risk factor management. (Level of Evidence: C)"
" 2. Patients with active cardiac conditions should be evaluated and treated per ACC/AHA guidelines and, if appropriate, consider proceeding to the operating room. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 3. Patients undergoing low risk surgery are recommended to proceed to planned surgery. (Level of Evidence: B) "
" 4. Patients with poor (less than 4 METs) or unknown functional capacity and no clinical risk factors should proceed with planned surgery. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. It is probably recommended that patients with functional capacity greater than or equal to 4 METs without symptoms‡ proceed to planned surgery.§(Level of Evidence: B)"
" 2. It is probably recommended that patients with poor (less than 4 METs) or unknown functional capacity and 3 or more clinical risk factors who are scheduled for vascular surgery consider testing if it will change management.¶(Level of Evidence: B)"
" 3. It is probably recommended that patients with poor (less than 4 METs) or unknown functional capacity and 3 or more clinical risk factors who are scheduled for intermediate risk surgery proceed with planned surgery with heart rate control.¶(Level of Evidence: B)"
" 4. It is probably recommended that patients with poor (less than 4 METs) or unknown functional capacity and 1 or 2 clinical risk factors who are scheduled for vascular or intermediate risk surgery proceed with planned surgery with heart rate control.¶(Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. Noninvasive testing might be considered if it will change management for patients with poor (less than 4 METs) or unknown functional capacity and 3 or more clinical risk factors who are scheduled for intermediate risk surgery. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 2. Noninvasive testing might be considered if it will change management for patients with poor (less than 4 METs) or unknown functional capacity and 1 or 2 clinical risk factors who are scheduled for vascular or intermediate risk surgery. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. It is reasonable for patients with dyspnea of unknown origin to undergo preoperative evaluation of left ventricular (LV) function. (Level of Evidence: C)"
" 2. It is reasonable for patients with current or prior heart failure with worsening dyspnea or other change in clinical status to undergo preoperative evaluation of LV function if not performed within 12 months. (Level of Evidence: C)"
" 1. Reassessment of LV function in clinically stable patients with previously documented cardiomyopathy is not well established. (Level of Evidence: C)"
Preoperative Resting 12-Lead ECG (DO NOT EDIT) [14]
" 1. Preoperative resting 12-lead ECG is recommended for patients with at least 1 clinical risk factor who are undergoing vascular surgical procedures. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. Preoperative and postoperative resting 12-lead ECGs are not indicated in asymptomatic persons undergoing low-risk surgical procedures. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. Preoperative resting 12-lead ECG is reasonable in persons with no clinical risk factors who are undergoing vascular surgical procedures. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. Preoperative resting 12-lead ECG may be reasonable in patients with at least 1 clinical risk factor who are undergoing intermediate-risk operative procedures. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. Patients with active cardiac conditions (see Table 2) in whom noncardiac surgery is planned should be evaluated and treated per ACC/AHA guidelines before noncardiac surgery. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. Noninvasive testing is not useful for patients with no clinical risk factors undergoing intermediate-risk noncardiac surgery. (Level of Evidence: C)"
" 2. Noninvasive testing is not useful for patients undergoing low-risk noncardiac surgery. (Level of Evidence: C)"
" 1. Noninvasive stress testing of patients with 3 or more clinical risk factors and poor functional capacity (less than 4 METs) who require vascular surgery is reasonable if it will change management. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. Noninvasive stress testing may be considered for patients with at least 1 to 2 clinical risk factors and poor functional capacity (less than 4 METs) who require intermediate-risk noncardiac surgery if it will change management. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 2. Noninvasive stress testing may be considered for patients with at least 1 to 2 clinical risk factors and good functional capacity (greater than or equal to 4 METs) who are undergoing vascular surgery. (Level of Evidence: B)"
Preoperative Coronary Revascularization With CABG or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (DO NOT EDIT) [14]
" 2. Coronary revascularization before noncardiac surgery is useful in patients with stable angina who have 3-vessel disease (Survival benefit is greater when left ventricular ejection fraction is less than 0.50). (Level of Evidence: A) "
" 3. Coronary revascularization before noncardiac surgery is useful in patients with stable angina who have 2-vessel disease with significant proximal left anterior descending stenosis and either ejection fraction less than 0.50 or demonstrable ischemia on noninvasive testing (Level of Evidence: A) "
" 1. It is not recommended that routine prophylactic coronary revascularization be performed in patients with stable CAD before noncardiac surgery. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 2. Elective noncardiac surgery is not recommended within 4 to 6 weeks of bare-metal coronary stent implantation or within 12 months of drug-eluting coronary stent implantation in patients in whom thienopyridine therapy, or aspirin and thienopyridine therapy, will need to be discontinued perioperatively.(Level of Evidence: B)"
" 3. Elective noncardiac surgery is not recommended within 4 weeks of coronary revascularization with balloon angioplasty.(Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. In patients in whom coronary revascularization with PCI is appropriate for mitigation of cardiac symptoms and who need elective noncardiac surgery in the subsequent 12 months, a strategy of balloon angioplasty or bare-metal stent placement followed by 4 to 6 weeks of dual-antiplatelet therapy is probably indicated. (Level of Evidence: B)"
" 2. In patients who have received drug-eluting coronary stents and who must undergo urgent surgical procedures that mandate the discontinuation of thienopyridine therapy, it is reasonable to continue aspirin if at all possible and restart the thienopyridine as soon as possible. (Level of Evidence: C)"
" 1. The usefulness of preoperative coronary revascularization is not well established in high-risk ischemic patients (e.g., abnormal dobutamine stress echocardiograph with at least 5 segments of wall-motion abnormalities). (Level of Evidence: C) "
" 2. The usefulness of preoperative coronary revascularization is not well established for low-risk ischemic patients with an abnormal dobutamine stress echocardiograph (segments 1 to 4). (Level of Evidence: B) "
2011 ACCF/AHA/SCAI Guidelines for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (DO NOT EDIT) [15]
Revascularization Before Noncardiac Surgery (DO NOT EDIT) [15]
" 1.Beta blockers should be continued in patients undergoing surgery who are receiving beta blockers for treatment of conditions with ACCF/AHA Class I guideline indications for the drugs. (Level of Evidence: C) "
" 2.Beta blockers should be given to patients undergoing vascular surgery who are at high cardiac risk owing to the finding of ischemia on preoperative testing.(Level of Evidence: B) "
" 1.Beta blockers should not be given to patients undergoing surgery who have absolute contraindications to beta blockade. (Level of Evidence: C)"
" 2. Routine administration of high-dose beta blockers in the absence of dose titration is not useful and may be harmful to patients not currently taking beta blockers who are undergoing noncardiac surgery. [27](Level of Evidence: B) "
" 1. Beta blockers titrated to heart rate and blood pressure are probably recommended for patients undergoing vascular surgery who are at high cardiac risk owing to coronary artery disease or the finding of cardiac ischemia on preoperative testing. [28][29](Level of Evidence: B) "
" 2. Beta blockers titrated to heart rate and blood pressure are reasonable for patients in whom preoperative assessment for vascular surgery identifies high cardiac risk, as defined by the presence of more than 1 clinical risk factor.* (Level of Evidence: C)"
" 3. Beta blockers titrated to heart rate and blood pressure are reasonable for patients in whom preoperative assessment identifies coronary artery disease or high cardiac risk, as defined by the presence of more than 1 clinical risk factor,* who are undergoing intermediate-risk surgery. [30](Level of Evidence: B)"
" 1. The usefulness of beta blockers is uncertain for patients who are undergoing either intermediate-risk procedures or vascular surgery in whom preoperative assessment identifies a single clinical risk factor in the absence of coronary artery disease.* (Level of Evidence: C)"
" 2. The usefulness of beta blockers is uncertain in patients undergoing vascular surgery with no clinical risk factors* who are not currently taking beta blockers. [31]ACC AHA guidelines classification scheme#Level of Evidence|Level of Evidence: B]])"
“
* Clinical risk factors include history of ischemic heart disease, history of compensated or prior heart failure, history of cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and renal insufficiency (defined in the Revised Cardiac Risk Index as a preoperative serum creatinine of >2 mg/dL). [3]
”
References
↑Fleisher LA, Beckman JA, Brown KA; et al. (2009). "2009 ACCF/AHA focused update on perioperative beta blockade incorporated into the ACC/AHA 2007 guidelines on perioperative cardiovascular evaluation and care for noncardiac surgery: a report of the American college of cardiology foundation/American heart association task force on practice guidelines". Circulation. 120 (21): e169–276. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192690. PMID19884473. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Physical activity can be defined as “bodily movement produced by the contraction of skeletal muscle that increases energy expenditure above the basal level”
↑Adapted from Compendium of Physical Activities. Ainsworth, BE et al. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Vol 25, Pg 713 (1993) and Vol 32, S498 (2000).
↑"Guidelines and indications for coronary artery bypass graft surgery. A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Assessment of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Cardiovascular Procedures (Subcommittee on Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery)". Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 17 (3): 543–89. 1991. PMID1993774. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ 14.014.114.214.314.414.5Fleisher LA, Beckman JA, Brown KA; et al. (2007). "ACC/AHA 2007 guidelines on perioperative cardiovascular evaluation and care for noncardiac surgery: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2002 Guidelines on Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation for Noncardiac Surgery): developed in collaboration with the American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Society, Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology, and Society for Vascular Surgery". Circulation. 116 (17): e418–99. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.185699. PMID17901357. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ 15.015.1Levine GN, Bates ER, Blankenship JC; et al. (2011). "2011 ACCF/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions". Circulation. 124 (23): 2574–609. doi:10.1161/CIR.0b013e31823a5596. PMID22064598. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Devereaux PJ, Yang H, Yusuf S; et al. (2008). "Effects of extended-release metoprolol succinate in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery (POISE trial): a randomised controlled trial". Lancet. 371 (9627): 1839–47. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60601-7. PMID18479744. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Poldermans D, Boersma E, Bax JJ; et al. (1999). "The effect of bisoprolol on perioperative mortality and myocardial infarction in high-risk patients undergoing vascular surgery. Dutch Echocardiographic Cardiac Risk Evaluation Applying Stress Echocardiography Study Group". N. Engl. J. Med. 341 (24): 1789–94. doi:10.1056/NEJM199912093412402. PMID10588963. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Boersma E, Poldermans D, Bax JJ; et al. (2001). "Predictors of cardiac events after major vascular surgery: Role of clinical characteristics, dobutamine echocardiography, and beta-blocker therapy". JAMA. 285 (14): 1865–73. PMID11308400. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Dunkelgrun M, Boersma E, Schouten O; et al. (2009). "Bisoprolol and fluvastatin for the reduction of perioperative cardiac mortality and myocardial infarction in intermediate-risk patients undergoing noncardiovascular surgery: a randomized controlled trial (DECREASE-IV)". Ann. Surg. 249 (6): 921–6. doi:10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181a77d00. PMID19474688. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Lindenauer PK, Pekow P, Wang K, Mamidi DK, Gutierrez B, Benjamin EM (2005). "Perioperative beta-blocker therapy and mortality after major noncardiac surgery". N. Engl. J. Med. 353 (4): 349–61. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa041895. PMID16049209. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)