RT Journal
A1 Gold BS, Young ML, Kinman JL, Kitz DS, Berlin J, Schwartz J
T1 THe utility of preoperative electrocardiograms in the ambulatory surgical patient
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1992
FD February 1
VO 152
IS 2
SP 301
OP 305
DO 10.1001/archinte.1992.00400140055013
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1992.00400140055013
AB To determine the utility of preoperative screening electrocardiograms (ECGs) among ambulatory surgery patients, we reviewed the charts of 751 consecutive adult patients who underwent ambulatory surgery. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, coexisting medical problems, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score, preoperative ECG results, adverse intraoperative cardiovascular events, and postoperative cardiovascular complications. In our study population of relatively healthy outpatients, preoperative ECGs were abnormal in 42.7% of patients. Age, increased physical status score, and male gender were associated with a greater incidence of abnormal preoperative ECGs. There were 12 adverse cardiovascular perioperative events among the 751 patients (1.6%), and the preoperative ECG may have been clinically useful in six of these 12 patients. Neither preoperative ECGs nor results of preoperative screening questionnaires were predictive of adverse cardiovascular perioperative events. These findings question the utility of preoperative ECGs in the ambulatory surgery setting, especially among younger, relatively healthy patients.(Arch Intern Med. 1992;152:301-305)