Incidence of myocardial damage after vascular surgery: diagnosis with troponin Ic.

Objective: To compare the incidence of myocardial damages diagnosed following vascular surgery using the cardiac troponin I measurement technique and conventional methods. Study design: Prospective epidemiological study. Patients: Fifty-four patients who underwent surgery for either anevrysmal disease in 28 cases or occlusive aortic disease in 26 cases. Methods: Plasma concentration of cardiac troponin I (significant at a concentration > 1.5 ng.mL(-1)) was measured by immunoenzymofluorimetry on the second and fifth postoperative days. Conventional monitoring methods included daily electrocardiogram (EGG), enzymatic assay of total-PCK, and measurement of plasma levels of the MB isoenzyme of phophokinase creatin (MB-PCK) (significant at > 1 ng.mL(-1) and RI > 1.5). Results: The cardiac troponin I measurement technique allowed the diagnosis of minor myocardial damages during the postoperative period in five patients, whereas with the conventional methods (clinical signs, ECG, and MB-PCK) only three myocardial lesions were diagnosed. Conclusion: The cardiac troponin I measurement technique allows diagnosis of minor myocardial damages following vascular surgery. Conventional methods underestimate the incidence of these damages.