Diastolic Dysfunction Is a Risk of Perioperative Myocardial Injury Assessed by High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T in Elderly Patients Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery

BACKGROUND

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) is useful for detecting myocardial injury and is expected to become a prognostic marker in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. The aim of this pilot study evaluating the efficacy of β-blocker therapy in a perioperative setting (MAMACARI study) was to assess perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) in elderly patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF) undergoing non-cardiac surgery.Methods and Results:In this prospective observational cohort study of 151 consecutive patients with preserved EF and aged >60 years who underwent non-cardiac surgery, serum levels of hs-cTnT were measured before and on postoperative days 1 and 3 after surgery. PMI was defined as postoperative hs-cTnT >0.014 ng/mL and relative hs-cTnT change ≥20%. A total of 36 (23.8%) of the patients were diagnosed as having PMI. The incidence of a composite of cardiovascular events within 30 days after surgery, including myocardial infarction, stroke, worsening heart failure, atrial fibrillation and pulmonary embolism, was significantly higher in patients with PMI than in patients without PMI (odds ratio (OR) 9.25, P<0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.65-32.3). Multivariate analysis revealed that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction defined by echocardiography was independently associated with PMI (OR: 3.029, 95% CI: 1.341-6.84, P=0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

PMI is frequently observed in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Diastolic dysfunction is an independent predictor of PMI.

Myocardial Injury After Noncardiac Surgery and its Association With Short-Term Mortality

Background—

To identify patients at risk for postoperative myocardial injury and death, measuring cardiac troponin routinely after noncardiac surgery has been suggested. Such monitoring was implemented in our hospital. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of postoperative myocardial injury, as measured by troponin elevation, on 30-day mortality after noncardiac surgery.

Methods and Results—

This observational, single-center cohort study included 2232 consecutive intermediate- to high-risk noncardiac surgery patients aged ≥60 years who underwent surgery in 2011. Troponin was measured on the first 3 postoperative days. Log binomial regression analysis was used to estimate the association between postoperative myocardial injury (troponin I level >0.06 μg/L) and all-cause 30-day mortality. Myocardial injury was found in 315 of 1627 patients in whom troponin I was measured (19%). All-cause death occurred in 56 patients (3%). The relative risk of a minor increase in troponin (0.07–0.59 μg/L) was 2.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.3–4.2; P <0.01), and the relative risk of a 10- to 100-fold increase in troponin (≥0.60 μg/L) was 4.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.1–8.6; P <0.01). A myocardial infarction according to the universal definition was diagnosed in 10 patients (0.6%), of whom 1 (0.06%) had ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Conclusions—

Postoperative myocardial injury is an independent predictor of 30-day mortality after noncardiac surgery. Implementation of postoperative troponin monitoring as standard of care is feasible and may be helpful in improving the prognosis of patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Ascertainment of any and all neurologic and myocardial damage in carotid revascularization: the key to optimization?

The majority of carotid revascularization procedures performed at present are in asymptomatic patients. Since such procedures convey no immediate benefit, but rather protect from future hazard, optimization of procedural safety is mandatory. The authors focus their discussion on the methodologies that assess periprocedural myocardial damage and brain injury, as used in past clinical trials, from the fields of perioperative medicine and neurovascular imaging, and discuss methodologies to reduce both events in carotid revascularization.

Electrocardiograph Changes, Troponin Levels and Cardiac Complications After Orthopaedic Surgery

Introduction: The relationship between electrocardiograph (ECG) changes and troponin levels after the emergency orthopaedic surgery are not well characterised. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between ECG changes (ischaemia or arrhythmia), troponin elevations perioperatively and cardiac complications. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty-seven orthopaedic patients over 60 years of age were prospectively tested for troponin I and ECGs were performed on the first 3 postoperative mornings or until discharge. Results: The incidences of pre- and postoperative troponin elevation were 15.5% and 37.4% respectively, the majority were asymptomatically detected. Most of the patients who sustained a troponin rise did not have any concomitant ECG changes (51/70 or 72.9%). Postoperative ECG changes were noted in 18.4% (34/185) and of those with ECG changes, slightly more than half (55.9%) had a troponin elevation. Most ECG changes occurred on postoperative day 1 and were non-ST elevation in type. ECG changes occurred more frequently with higher troponin levels. Postoperative troponin elevation (P = 0.018) and not preoperative troponin level (P = 0.060) was associated with ECG changes on univariate analysis. Two premorbid factors were predictors of postoperative ECG changes using multivariate logistical regression; age [odds ratio (OR), 1.05; 95% CI, 1.005 to 1.100, P = 0.029) and sex OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.069 to 5.446, P = 0.034). Twenty patients sustained postoperative cardiac complications; 9 (45%) were associated with ECG changes and 16 (80%) with postoperative troponin elevation. Pre- or postoperative troponin elevation better predicted cardiac complications compared with preoperative ECG changes. Conclusion: Electrocardiograph changes do not necessarily accompany troponin elevations after the emergency orthopaedic surgery but are more likely to have higher troponin levels. The best predictor of postoperative cardiac complications is troponin elevation. Key words: Cardiovascular, Fracture, Myocardial ischaemia, Myocardial infarction, Surgery