Archives des maladies du coeur et des vaisseaux
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Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss · Feb 2002
Review[Evaluation of the cardiac risks in non-cardiac surgery in patients with heart failure].
Cardiac insufficiency represents a major risk factor in patients about to undergo non-cardiac surgery. The post-operative mortality is linked to the severity of the pre-operative functional impairment: rising from 4% in NYHA class 1 to 67% in class IV. The operative risk is greater when the cardiac insufficiency is more disabling, the patient is older (> 70 years) and if there is a history of acute pulmonary oedema and a gallop bruit on auscultation. ⋯ The risk of post-operative cardiac complications is low in the absence of the 9 risk factors defined by Goldman, as is an ischaemic syndrome (angina on light physical activity, unstable angina, myocardial infarction). Certain risk factors (jugular congestion, gallop bruit, recent myocardial infarction, non-sinus rhythm, extrasystoles, aortic stenosis) obviously require appropriate treatment beforehand. The sometimes difficult process demands a dialogue between the cardiologist and the surgeon, the recognition of the risk of surgery in a given centre, and the opinion of the patient duly informed of the terms of the discussion about him.