PRO: American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Risk Calculators Should Be Preferred Over the Revised Cardiac Risk Index for Perioperative Risk Stratification

Intraoperative management and hemodynamic monitoring for ma- jor abdominal surgery : a narrative review

Background : Several trials suggest that postoperative outcomes may be improved by the use of hemodynamic monitoring, but a survey by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) showed that cardiac output is monitored by only 34% of ASA and ESA respondents and central venous pressure is monitored by 73% of ASA respondents and 84% of ESA respondents. Moreover, 86.5% of ASA respondents and 98.1% of ESA respondents believe that their current hemodynamic management could be improved (1). The interaction of general anesthesia and surgical stress is the main problem and the leading cause for postoperative morbidity and mortality. The choice of a suitable hemodynamic monitoring system for patients at high anesthesiological risk is of crucial importance to reduce the incidence of major postoperative complications. The aim of the present review is to summarize the benefits of a defined path beginning before surgery, and discuss the available evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of an individualized hemodynamic approach for major abdominal surgery. Objective : To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a perioperative hemodynamic therapy algorithm in high risk patients

Who is a high-risk surgical patient?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Timely identification of high-risk surgical candidates facilitate surgical decision-making and allows appropriate tailoring of perioperative management strategies. This review aims to summarize the recent advances in perioperative risk stratification.

RECENT FINDINGS

Use of indices which include various combinations of preoperative and postoperative variables remain the most commonly used risk-stratification strategy. Incorporation of biomarkers (troponin and natriuretic peptides), comprehensive objective assessment of functional capacity, and frailty into the current framework enhance perioperative risk estimation. Intraoperative hemodynamic parameters can provide further signals towards identifying patients at risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. Implementation of machine-learning algorithms is showing promising results in real-time forecasting of perioperative outcomes.

SUMMARY

Perioperative risk estimation is multidimensional including validated indices, biomarkers, functional capacity estimation, and intraoperative hemodynamics. Identification and implementation of targeted strategies which mitigate predicted risk remains a greater challenge.