Heart Complication Risk After Major Surgery is Higher Than Previously Thought

One in five high-risk patients after undergoing major non-cardiac surgery could develop one or more heart complications within a year, reports a new study.

Greater likelihood of having heart complication risk or dying after major non-cardiac surgery has been recognized, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the European Heart Journal - Acute Cardiovascular Care.

"Patients are at risk for a longer period than was previously thought," said study author Dr. Christian Puelacher.

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‘Surgery can trigger cardiac events, including heart rhythm disturbances, heart attacks, heart failure, and death, despite the advantages.’

The study was conducted in high-risk patients, including people aged with heart disease (prior stroke, peripheral artery disease, or coronary artery disease). All patients had non-cardiac surgery, which compelled them to stay in the hospital at least one night afterward. The procedures included visceral, orthopedic, vascular, urologic, spinal, trauma, and thoracic surgery.

"Over 300 million surgeries are performed every year globally. By providing information on postoperative complications, our study provides opportunities to make surgery even safer," said Dr. Puelacher.

The study involved 2,265 patients with an average age of 73 years, and 43 percent were women. They were followed for one year after surgery for heart rhythm disorders, heart attacks, heart failure, and death due to cardiovascular disease. All patients had continuous measurements of troponin while in the hospital to detect asymptomatic heart attacks.

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Heart attack is the death of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Simple guidelines to avoid heart attack are listed.

Nearly 15 percent had at least one heart complication within 30 days. The 30-day incidence of heart complications was greatest in patients who had thoracic surgery (22 percent), followed by vascular surgery (21 percent) and trauma surgery (19 percent). One in five patients (21 percent) had at least one heart complication within one year.

The author noted that the study did not examine what patients can do to improve their outcomes. But he stated: "Surgery is a process rather than a quick fix. Do not delay your surgery, but if there is time and you want to prepare, quit smoking, eat healthily, and be physically active, so your body is in better shape."

Heart Attack - Overview
Heart attack is the death of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Other names for heart attack include acute myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis, and coronary occlusion.

Source-Medindia

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Heart Attack occurs when the flow of oxygenated blood to heart muscles is hindered or stopped due to built-up of plaques in coronary arteries. Heart Attack is the No.1 killer among Indians.