Preoperative risk evaluation and perioperative management of patients with coronary artery disease

Cardiac disease is a common cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Careful preoperative assessment and perioperative management are crucial to minimize cardiac complications. A number of risk indices, guidelines, and algorithms have been proposed to assist the physician in preoperative cardiac risk evaluation. This article reviews preoperative risk assessment, appropriate use of noninvasive cardiac tests, and interventions to minimize risk in the surgical patient with coronary artery disease.