Hematologic Risk Assessment
Hematologic risk assessment (HRA) involves evaluating and managing needs for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion as well as the integrity of a patient’s coagulation ability, including intrinsic bleeding disorders or…
Perioperative Management of Valvular Heart Disease
Preoperative Assessment Valvular heart disease (VHD) is frequently observed in patients undergoing surgery. As the medical and minimally invasive management of coronary artery disease increases, the number of patients with…
Prevention of Ischemic Injury in Noncardiac Surgery
Introduction Perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) is the most common cause of death in the early postoperative period. Perioperative ischemia can be caused by either acute coronary thrombosis or by a…
Pulmonary Risk Assessment
Introduction Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) have undeniable clinical relevance because they are frequent and impose a significant burden of perioperative morbidity and mortality. The reported incidence of PPCs varies considerably…
Prevention of Ischemic Injury in Cardiac Surgery
The development of the heart-lung machine by John and Mary Gibbon over a half-century ago ushered in the modern era of cardiac surgery. Prior to 1953, the emerging field of…
Risk Assessment and Perioperative Renal Dysfunction
All patients undergoing surgery—from simple surgery to an extremely complex operative procedure—suffer some perturbation in oxygen delivery to the kidneys. Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) portends an increase in overall…
Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Cardiac Surgery
Despite significant advancements in surgical and perioperative technology, cardiac surgery remains associated with significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Over the last 30 years, at least 20 risk models have…
Central Nervous System Risk Assessment: Preventing Postoperative Brain Injury
Perioperative complications involving the central nervous system (CNS) are common. However, these issues have generally received little attention in the presurgical assessment process. New data allow us to better guide…
Perioperative Cardiac Risk Assessment in Noncardiac Surgery
Introduction Anesthesia has become increasingly safer. According to the Anesthesia Quality Institute’s National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry, comprising over 30 million cases, perioperative mortality has significantly decreased in high-income countries…
The Value of Preoperative Assessment
Describing the value of preoperative assessment resembles the fable of six blind men trying to describe an elephant: Each comes across different parts and creates his own version of reality…
