Risk of Early Postoperative Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Complication in Patients with Preoperative COVID-19 Undergoing Cancer Surgery

BACKGROUND

As the COVID-19 pandemic shifts to an endemic phase, an increasing proportion of patients with cancer and a preoperative history of COVID-19 will require surgery. This study aimed to assess the influence of preoperative COVID-19 on postoperative risk for major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACEs) among those undergoing surgical cancer resection. Secondary objectives included determining optimal time-to-surgery guidelines based on COVID-19 severity and discerning the influence of vaccination status on MACE risk.

STUDY DESIGN

National COVID Cohort Collaborative Data Enclave, a large multi-institutional dataset, was used to identify patients that underwent surgical cancer resection between January 2020 and February 2023. Multivariate regression analysis adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and risk of surgery was performed to evaluate risk for 30-day postoperative MACE.

RESULTS

Of 204,371 included patients, 21,313 (10.4%) patients had a history of preoperative COVID-19. History of COVID-19 was associated with an increased risk for postoperative composite MACE as well as 30-day mortality. Among patients with mild disease who did not require hospitalization, MACE risk was elevated for up to 4 weeks after infection. Postoperative MACE risk remained elevated more than 8 weeks after infection in those with moderate disease. Vaccination did not reduce risk for postoperative MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these data highlight that assessment of the severity of preoperative COVID-19 infection should be a routine component of both preoperative patient screening as well as surgical risk stratification. In addition, strategies beyond vaccination that increase patients' cardiovascular fitness and prevent COVID-19 infection are needed.

Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection increases risk of early postoperative cardiovascular complications following noncardiac surgery

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic progresses to an endemic phase, a greater number of patients with a history of COVID-19 will undergo surgery. Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACE) are the primary contributors to postoperative morbidity and mortality; however, studies assessing the relationship between a previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and postoperative MACE outcomes are limited. Here, we analyzed retrospective data from 457,804 patients within the N3C Data Enclave, the largest national, multi-institutional data set on COVID-19 in the United States. However, 7.4% of patients had a history of COVID-19 before surgery. When comorbidities, age, race, and risk of surgery were controlled, patients with preoperative COVID-19 had an increased risk for 30-day postoperative MACE. MACE risk was influenced by an interplay between COVID-19 disease severity and time between surgery and infection; in those with mild disease, MACE risk was not increased even among those undergoing surgery within 4 wk following infection. In those with moderate disease, risk for postoperative MACE was mitigated 8 wk after infection, whereas patients with severe disease continued to have elevated postoperative MACE risk even after waiting for 8 wk. Being fully vaccinated decreased the risk for postoperative MACE in both patients with no history of COVID-19 and in those with breakthrough COVID-19 infection. Together, our results suggest that a thorough assessment of the severity, vaccination status, and timing of SARS-CoV-2 infection must be a mandatory part of perioperative stratification.NEW & NOTEWORTHY With an increasing proportion of patients undergoing surgery with a prior history of COVID-19, it is crucial to understand the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on postoperative cardiovascular/cerebrovascular risk. Our work assesses a large, national, multi-institutional cohort of patients to highlight that COVID-19 infection increases risk for postoperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACE). MACE risk is influenced by an interplay between disease severity and time between infection and surgery, and full vaccination reduces the risk for 30-day postoperative MACE. These results highlight the importance of stratifying time-to-surgery guidelines based on disease severity.

Effect of Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning on Perioperative Endothelial Dysfunction in Non-Cardiac Surgery: A Randomised Clinical Trial

Endothelial dysfunction result from inflammation and excessive production of reactive oxygen species as part of the surgical stress response. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) potentially exerts anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, which might stabilise the endothelial function after non-cardiac surgery. This was a single centre randomised clinical trial including 60 patients undergoing sub-acute laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to acute cholecystitis. Patients were randomised to RIPC or control. The RIPC procedure consisted of four cycles of five minutes of ischaemia and reperfusion of one upper extremity. Endothelial function was assessed as the reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) and circulating biomarkers of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability (L-arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), L-arginine/ADMA ratio, tetra- and dihydrobiopterin (BH4 and BH2), and total plasma biopterin) preoperative, 2–4 h after surgery and 24 h after surgery. RHI did not differ between the groups (p = 0.07). Neither did levels of circulating biomarkers of NO bioavailability change in response to RIPC. L-arginine and L-arginine/ADMA ratio was suppressed preoperatively and increased 24 h after surgery (p < 0.001). The BH4/BH2-ratio had a high preoperative level, decreased 2–4 h after surgery and remained low 24 h after surgery (p = 0.01). RIPC did not influence endothelial function or markers of NO bioavailability until 24 h after sub-acute laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In response to surgery, markers of NO bioavailability increased, and oxidative stress decreased. These findings support that a minimally invasive removal of the inflamed gallbladder countereffects reduced markers of NO bioavailability and increased oxidative stress caused by acute cholecystitis.

Ferroptosis, necroptosis and cuproptosis: Novel forms of regulated cell death in diabetic cardiomyopathy

Diabetes is a common chronic metabolic disease, and its incidence continues to increase year after year. Diabetic patients mainly die from various complications, with the most common being diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the detection rate of diabetic cardiomyopathy is low in clinical practice, and targeted treatment is lacking. Recently, a large number of studies have confirmed that myocardial cell death in diabetic cardiomyopathy involves pyroptosis, apoptosis, necrosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, cuproptosis, cellular burial, and other processes. Most importantly, numerous animal studies have shown that the onset and progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy can be mitigated by inhibiting these regulatory cell death processes, such as by utilizing inhibitors, chelators, or genetic manipulation. Therefore, we review the role of ferroptosis, necroptosis, and cuproptosis, three novel forms of cell death in diabetic cardiomyopathy, searching for possible targets, and analyzing the corresponding therapeutic approaches to these targets.

Ferroptosis, necroptosis and cuproptosis: Novel forms of regulated cell death in diabetic cardiomyopathy

Diabetes is a common chronic metabolic disease, and its incidence continues to increase year after year. Diabetic patients mainly die from various complications, with the most common being diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the detection rate of diabetic cardiomyopathy is low in clinical practice, and targeted treatment is lacking. Recently, a large number of studies have confirmed that myocardial cell death in diabetic cardiomyopathy involves pyroptosis, apoptosis, necrosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, cuproptosis, cellular burial, and other processes. Most importantly, numerous animal studies have shown that the onset and progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy can be mitigated by inhibiting these regulatory cell death processes, such as by utilizing inhibitors, chelators, or genetic manipulation. Therefore, we review the role of ferroptosis, necroptosis, and cuproptosis, three novel forms of cell death in diabetic cardiomyopathy, searching for possible targets, and analyzing the corresponding therapeutic approaches to these targets.

Estimation of the Risk of Postoperative Hypertension Following Minor to Moderate Surgery Using an Echocardiogram and Biomarkers

This study aimed to determine independent factors for developing postoperative hypertension using 4 biomarkers in patients receiving oral and maxillofacial surgery under general anesthesia. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity myocardial troponin T (hs-TnT), and high-sensitivity myocardial troponin I (hs-TnI) were measured and preoperative echocardiograms were examined. Episodes of systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 170 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg within 1 week after surgery were considered postoperative hypertension. We analyzed 213 (130 men; 83 women) patients, who were divided into a postoperative hypertension group (HT group, n = 32) and a normal group (N group, n = 181). The HT group showed a higher LVMI (113.5 versus 100.1), higher E/e' of the lateral wall (9.1 versus 7.7), and higher BNP (39.2 versus 22.9 pg/mL), NT-proBNP (400.1 versus 143.9 pg/mL), and hs-TnT (15.6 versus 10.3 ng/L) concentrations compared to the N group. NT-proBNP and hs-TnT concentrations positively associated with E/e', but BNP and hs-TnI did not. NT-proBNP (AUC = 0.64, cutoff value: 117.0 pg/mL) and hs-TnT (AUC = 0.61, cutoff value: 11.0 ng/L) concentrations were effective for discriminating E/e' ≥ 12. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that risk factors responsible for developing postoperative hypertension were NT-proBNP and hs-TnT using biomarkers and E/e' as independent variables, and NT-proBNP and SBP at admission using biomarkers and SBP at admission as independent variables. These findings suggest that NT-proBNP and hs-TnT concentrations, and SBP at admission, are useful to predict postoperative hypertension after minor to moderate surgery, and that left ventricular filling pressure is a primary factor associated with postoperative hypertension.

Physical Exercise Improves Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Stage 3-4 Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) exhibit a higher probability of having cognitive impairment or dementia than those without CKD. The beneficial effects of physical exercise on cognitive function are known in the general older population, but more research is required in older adults with CKD.

METHODS

Eighty-one outpatients (aged ≥65 years) with CKD stage G3-G4 were assessed for eligibility. Among them, 60 were randomized (single-center, unblinded, and stratified) and 53 received the allocated intervention (exercise n = 27, control n = 26). Patients in the exercise group undertook group-exercise training at our facility once weekly and independent exercises at home twice weekly or more, for 24 weeks. Patients in the control group received general care. General and specific cognitive functions (memory, attention, executive, and verbal) were measured, and differences in their scores at baseline and at the 24-week follow-up visit were assessed between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients completed the follow-up at 24 weeks (exercise n = 23, control n = 21). Patients in the exercise group showed significantly greater changes in Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Logical Memory delayed recall (exercise effect: 2.82, 95% CI: 0.46-5.19, p = 0.03), and immediate and delayed recall (exercise effect: 5.97, 95% CI: 1.13-10.81, p = 0.02) scores than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The 24-week exercise intervention significantly improved the memory function in older adults with pre-dialysis CKD. This randomized controlled trial suggests that physical exercise is a useful nonpharmacological strategy for preventing cognitive decline in these patients.

Exogenous Hydrogen Sulfide Plays an Important Role by Regulating Autophagy in Diabetic-Related Diseases

Autophagy is a vital cell mechanism which plays an important role in many physiological processes including clearing long-lived, accumulated and misfolded proteins, removing damaged organelles and regulating growth and aging. Autophagy also participates in a variety of biological functions, such as development, cell differentiation, resistance to pathogens and nutritional hunger. Recently, autophagy has been reported to be involved in diabetes, but the mechanism is not fully understood. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a colorless, water-soluble, flammable gas with the typical odor of rotten eggs, which has been known as a highly toxic gas for many years. However, it has been reported recently that H₂S, together with nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, is an important gas signal transduction molecule. H₂S has been reported to play a protective role in many diabetes-related diseases, but the mechanism is not fully clear. Recent studies indicate that H₂S plays an important role by regulating autophagy in many diseases including cancer, tissue fibrosis diseases and glycometabolic diseases; however, the related mechanism has not been fully studied. In this review, we summarize recent research on the role of H₂S in regulating autophagy in diabetic-related diseases to provide references for future related research.

The effect of remote ischaemic preconditioning on endothelial function after hip fracture surgery

BACKGROUND

Endothelial dysfunction seems to play a role in the pathophysiology of myocardial injury after surgery. The aim of this randomised clinical trial was to examine whether remote ischaemic preconditioning in relation to hip fracture surgery ameliorates post-operative systemic endothelial dysfunction.

METHODS

This was a planned single-centre pilot sub-study of a multicentre, randomised clinical trial. Patients ≥45 years with a cardiovascular risk factor were randomised to remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) or control (standard treatment) performed in relation with their hip fracture operation. RIPC consisted of four cycles of 5 minutes forearm ischaemia and reperfusion. The procedure was performed non-invasively with a tourniquet. The endothelial function was assessed with non-invasive digital pulse amplitude tonometry on post-operative day 1 and expressed as the reactive hyperaemia index (RHI). Endothelial dysfunction was defined as RHI < 1.22.

RESULTS

Between February 2015 and December 2016, 18 patients were allocated to the RIPC group and 20 patients to the control group. The endothelial function was impaired in both groups on post-operative day 1. RHI did not differ between the groups, 1.47 (95% CI 1.20-1.75) in the RIPC group vs. 1.54 (95% CI 1.17-1.91) in the control group, P = .76. Endothelial dysfunction was present in 3/18 patients (16.7%) in the RIPC group and 8/20 patients (40%) in the control group, P = .11.

CONCLUSION

No beneficial effect of remote ischaemic preconditioning on the systemic endothelial dysfunction, assessed at a single time point on post-operative day one, was detected after hip fracture surgery.

27-Hydroxycholesterol regulates human SLC22A12 gene expression through estrogen receptor action

The excretion and reabsorption of uric acid both to and from urine are tightly regulated by uric acid transporters. Metabolic syndrome conditions, such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and insulin resistance, are believed to regulate the expression of uric acid transporters and decrease the excretion of uric acid. However, the mechanisms driving cholesterol impacts on uric acid transporters have been unknown. Here, we show that cholesterol metabolite 27‐hydroxycholesterol (27HC) upregulates the uric acid reabsorption transporter URAT1 encoded by SLC22A12 via estrogen receptors (ER). Transcriptional motif analysis showed that the SLC22A12 gene promoter has more estrogen response elements (EREs) than other uric acid reabsorption transporters such as SLC22A11 and SLC22A13, and 27HC‐activated SLC22A12 gene promoter via ER through EREs. Furthermore, 27HC increased SLC22A12 gene expression in human kidney organoids. Our results suggest that in hypercholesterolemic conditions, elevated levels of 27HC derived from cholesterol induce URAT1/SLC22A12 expression to increase uric acid reabsorption, and thereby, could increase serum uric acid levels.

Endothelial dysfunction and myocardial injury after major emergency abdominal surgery: a prospective cohort study

Background

Preoperative endothelial dysfunction is a predictor of myocardial injury and major adverse cardiac events. Non-cardiac surgery is known to induce acute endothelial changes. The aim of this explorative cohort study was to assess the extent of systemic endothelial dysfunction after major emergency abdominal surgery and the potential association with postoperative myocardial injury.

Methods

Patients undergoing major emergency abdominal surgery were included in this prospective cohort study. The primary outcome was the change in endothelial function expressed as the reactive hyperemia index from 4-24 h after surgery until postoperative day 3–5. The reactive hyperemia index was assessed by non-invasive digital pulse tonometry. Secondary outcomes included changes in biomarkers of nitric oxide metabolism and bioavailability. All assessments were performed at the two separate time points in the postoperative period. Clinical outcomes included myocardial injury within the third postoperative day and major adverse cardiovascular events within 30 days of surgery.

Results

Between October 2016 and June 2017, 83 patients were included. The first assessment of the endothelial function, 4–24 h, was performed 15.8 (SD 6.9) hours after surgery and the second assessment, postoperative day 3–5, was performed 83.7 (SD 19.8) hours after surgery. The reactive hyperemia index was suppressed early after surgery and did not increase significantly; 1.64 (95% CI 1.52–177) at 4–24 h after surgery vs. 1.75 (95% CI 1.63–1.89) at postoperative day 3–5, p = 0.34. The L-arginine/ADMA ratio, expressing the nitric oxide production, was reduced in the perioperative period and correlated significantly with the reactive hyperemia index. A total of 16 patients (19.3%) had a major adverse cardiovascular event, of which 11 patients (13.3%) had myocardial injury. The L-arginine/ADMA ratio was significantly decreased at 4–24 h after surgery in patients suffering myocardial injury.

Conclusion

This explorative pathophysiological study showed that acute systemic endothelial dysfunction was present early after major emergency abdominal surgery and remained unchanged until day 3–5 after the procedure. Early postoperative disturbances in the nitric oxide bioavailability might add to the pathogenesis of myocardial injury. This pathophysiological link should be confirmed in larger studies.

Trial registration

clinicaltrials.gov no. NCT03010969.

Perioperative Heart-Brain Axis Protection in Obese Surgical Patients: The Nutrigenomic Approach

The number of obese patients undergoing cardiac and noncardiac surgery is rapidly increasing because they are more prone to concomitant diseases, such as diabetes, thrombosis, sleep-disordered breathing, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders. Even if guidelines are already available to manage anesthesia and surgery of obese patients, the assessment of the perioperative morbidity and mortality from heart and brain disorders in morbidly obese surgical patients will be challenging in the next years. The present review will recapitulate the new mechanisms underlying the Heart-brain Axis (HBA) vulnerability during the perioperative period in healthy and morbidly obese patients. Finally, we will describe the nutrigenomics approach, an emerging noninvasive dietary tool, to maintain a healthy body weight and to minimize the HBA propensity to injury in obese individuals undergoing all types of surgery by personalized intake of plant compounds that may regulate the switch from health to disease in an epigenetic manner. Our review provides current insights into the mechanisms underlying HBA response in obese surgical patients and how they are modulated by epigenetically active food constituents.

Flow-Mediated Dilatation of the Brachial Artery for Assessing Endothelial Dysfunction in Children with Moyamoya Disease

BACKGROUND

Moyamoya disease is a progressive, steno-occlusive arteriopathy involving the internal carotid artery and its branches and causing recurrent stroke episodes in children. Patients with moyamoya disease may be more susceptible to influences that cause endothelial dysfunction. We evaluated whether flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery is useful for assessing endothelial dysfunction in children with moyamoya disease.

METHODS

This prospective observational study included 30 children with moyamoya disease and 30 controls. After anesthesia induction, a blood pressure cuff was applied to the forearm and inflated to a pressure that was 50 mm Hg above the baseline systolic blood pressure for 5 min. From 30 s before to 2 min after deflation, the brachial artery diameter was recorded on ultrasound. The increase in internal diameter was expressed as the percentage of the baseline diameter.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine patients were analyzed. Baseline brachial artery diameters in the moyamoya and control groups were 3.00 and 3.37 mm, respectively (p = 0.004; difference, 0.38; 95% CI 0.12-0.63), while those after deflation were 3.06 and 3.48 mm, respectively (p = 0.003; difference, 0.42; 95% CI 0.15-0.68). The percent change of the baseline diameter value was 4.0% in the disease group and 8.3% in the control group (p = 0.10). There was a group and time interaction for brachial artery diameter (p = 0.01; main effect of group, p = 0.009; main effect of time, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

FMD of the brachial artery may not be enough for determining endothelial dysfunction under general anesthesia in children with moyamoya disease.

Elevated serum uric acid is associated with peripheral endothelial dysfunction in women

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Both elevated serum uric acid (SUA) and peripheral endothelial dysfunction (PED) are associated independently with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the association between SUA and PED is yet to be established. We hypothesized that high normal range of SUA is associated with PED.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of patients who were referred to Mayo Clinic between 2006 and 2014 for routine cardiovascular evaluation and who underwent evaluation of Reactive Hyperemia Peripheral Arterial Tonometry (index <2 consistent with PED). A high UA was defined as ≥5 mg/dL, in keeping with previous studies evaluating the link between SUA and CVD outcomes.

RESULTS

One hundred forty patients were included (mean age 50.7 ± 12.9 years, 86 (61.4%) female). Twenty four patients (17.1%) had pre-existing CVD (8 (9.3%) in females). Thirty patients (21.6%) had a Framingham score > 10% (8 (9.4%) in females). Fifty eight (41.4%) had PED and 77 (55.0%) had an elevated SUA. SUA levels were higher in patients with PED compared to those without (5.5 ± 1.4 vs 4.8 ± 1.2 mg/dL; p = 0.004). In an univariate analysis, elevated SUA levels were associated with PED (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33-5.48; p = 0.005). In a multivariate analysis adjusting for age, sex, presence of obstructive CVD and Framingham score>10, elevated SUA levels were associated with PED (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.08-5.52; p = 0.031). After stratifying by sex, this association persisted in females only.

CONCLUSIONS

High normal SUA levels are associated with PED in women who are otherwise at low risk for CVD. Thus, SUA is a promising circulating biomarker that could be used to assist in risk stratification in female patients with chest pain and/or those undergoing evaluation of CVD risk.

Current Status and Challenges of NRF2 as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is one of the main causes of heart failure and death in patients with diabetes mellitus. Reactive oxygen species produced excessively in diabetes mellitus cause necrosis, apoptosis, ferroptosis, inflammation, and fibrosis of the myocardium as well as impair the cardiac structure and function. It is increasingly clear that oxidative stress is a principal cause of diabetic cardiomyopathy. The transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (NRF2) activates the transcription of more than 200 genes in the human genome. Most of the proteins translated from these genes possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-ferroptotic, and anti-fibrotic actions. There is a growing body of evidence indicating that NRF2 and its target genes are crucial in preventing high glucose-induced oxidative damage in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Recently, many natural and synthetic activators of NRF2 are shown to possess promising therapeutic effects on diabetic cardiomyopathy in animal models of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Targeting NRF2 signaling by pharmacological entities is a potential approach to ameliorating diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the persistent high expression of NRF2 in cancer tissues also protects the growth of cancer cells. This "dark side" of NRF2 increases the challenges of using NRF2 activators to treat diabetic cardiomyopathy. In addition, some NRF2 activators were found to have off-target effects. In this review, we summarize the current status and challenges of NRF2 as a potential therapeutic target for diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Impaired Flow-Mediated Dilation and Severity and Vulnerability of Culprit Plaque in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

The association between endothelial function, evaluated using flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and the severity of coronary artery disease remains to be elucidated.A total of 245 consecutive patients with stable angina were prospectively enrolled. FMD was evaluated in the brachial artery before percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the FMD value (lower FMD group [FMD < 2.0], n = 82; higher FMD group [FMD ≥ 2.0], n = 163). The severity of coronary artery disease was evaluated using findings of angiography and optical coherence tomography, and compared between the 2 groups.The prevalence of left main (LM) disease was significantly higher in the lower FMD group than in the higher FMD group (8.5% versus 2.5%, P = 0.046), although the prevalence of multivessel disease was comparable between the groups. Lower FMD was independently associated with a higher prevalence of LM disease (odds ratio, 3.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-15.5; P = 0.033). A general linear model with multiple variables revealed that the minimal lumen area (MLA) in the culprit lesion was significantly smaller in patients with lower FMD than in those with higher FMD (regression coefficient b, -0.249 mm²; 95% confidence interval, -0.479--0.018 mm²; P = 0.035). The prevalence ofvulnerable plaque characteristics was comparable between the 2 groups.Patients with lower FMD had a higher incidence of LM disease and a smaller MLA in the culprit lesion. FMD may be a useful, noninvasive indicator for identifying patients with severe coronary artery disease.

Predictive Factors of Postoperative Blood Pressure Abnormalities Following a Minor-to-Moderate Surgery

Myocardial ischemic events after non-cardiac surgery is still a serious problem, especially in older, high-risk patients. However, the prevalence and risk factors of blood pressure (BP) abnormalities, which may possibly lead to myocardial ischemic attack, have not been reported. Our aim is to elucidate predictive factors of postoperative BP abnormalities following a minor-to-moderate surgery, employing preoperative left ventricular diastolic function. Patients who underwent cardiac echocardiogram examination and received oral and maxillofacial surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled. The echocardiographic parameters of diastolic function were compared between patients who had postoperative BP abnormalities (hypertension-systolic blood pressure [SBP] ≥ 170 mmHg-or hypotension-SBP < 80 mmHg-episode) that required therapeutic interventions until 7 days after surgery and those who had no BP abnormalities. Of the 173 patients analyzed, 25 (14.4%) had BP abnormalities. BP abnormalities patients were older, having a larger proportion of diabetes mellitus, lower E/A ratio and e', and larger E/e' and left atrial dimension than those without BP abnormalities. Subanalyses revealed that the independent risk factors responsible for hypertension episodes (14 patients) were the mean e' (odd ratio [OR]: 0.434; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.229-0.824), diabetes mellitus (OR: 5.018; 95% CI: 1.030-24.436), SBP at hospitalization (OR: 1.099; 95% CI: 1.036-1.165), and operation time (hour; OR: 1.326; 95%CI: 1.109-1.586), while hypotension episodes (11 patients) were associated solely with operation time (OR: 1.206; 95% CI: 1.046-1.391). In conclusion, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, increased insulin resistance, boosted SBP at hospitalization, and prolonged operation should be taken into consideration as risk factors of postoperative BP abnormalities, especially hypertension, following minor-to-moderate surgery.