Preventing heart complications during surgery

ALMOST everyone will undergo some form of surgery at some point in time. Heart events account for a major percentage of complications during and after surgery. According to the article "Vascular Events In Non-cardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation Study" carried in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2012, almost two in 100 died within 30 days after surgery. If there is a heart attack during the surgery, the 30-day death rate can increase significantly to 17 per 100.

Predisposing causes

There are many reasons for the aggravation of underlying heart disease or triggering of a heart attack during surgery. Patient-related factors include underlying anaemia (resulting in less oxygen), impaired heart pump function and the discontinuation of anti-platelet medication of those who have had stents (cylindrical meshes) in their heart arteries.