What is the best pre‐operative risk stratification tool for major adverse cardiac events following elective vascular surgery? A prospective observational cohort study evaluating pre‐operative myocardial ischaemia monitoring and biomarker analysis

• Published in: Anaesthesia Vol. 67; no. 4; pp. 389 - 395
• Main Authors: Biccard, B. M., Naidoo, P., de Vasconcellos, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2012; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; C-Reactive Protein; Cohort Studies; Elective Surgical Procedures; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory - methods; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory - statistics & numerical data; Female; Heart Diseases - blood; Heart Diseases - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Myocardial Ischemia - diagnosis; Myocardial Ischemia - epidemiology; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain - blood; Odds Ratio; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Predictive Value of Tests; Preoperative Care; Prospective Studies; Risk Assessment; South Africa - epidemiology; Treatment Outcome; Troponin - blood; Vascular Surgical Procedures; South Africa; Vascular disease; Surgery; Cohort study; Risk factor; Cardiovascular disease; Anesthesia; Complication; Myocardial ischemia; Coronary heart disease; Myocardial disease; Monitoring
• ISSN: 0003-2409; 1365-2044
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2011.07020.x

Summary Although brain natriuretic peptide has been shown to be superior to the revised cardiac risk index for risk stratification of vascular surgical patients, it remains unknown whether it is superior to alternative dynamic risk predictors, such as other pre‐operative biomarkers (C‐reactive protein and troponins) or myocardial ischaemia monitoring. The aim of this prospective observational study was to determine the relative clinical utility of these risk predictors for the prediction of postoperative cardiac events in elective vascular surgical patients. Only pre‐operative troponin elevation (OR 56.8, 95% CI 6.5–496.0, p < 0.001) and brain natriuretic peptide above the optimal discriminatory point (OR 6.0, 95% CI 2.7–12.9, p < 0.001) were independently associated with cardiac events. Both brain natriuretic peptide and troponin risk stratification significantly improved overall net reclassification (74.6% (95% CI 51.6%–97.5%) and 38.5% (95% CI 22.4–54.6%, respectively)); however, troponin stratification decreased the correct classification of patients with cardiac complications (−59%, p < 0.001). Pre‐operative brain natriuretic peptide evaluation was the only clinically useful predictor of postoperative cardiac complications.