Cardiovascular complications after lung surgery

Cardiovascular complications following thoracic surgery remain a challenge to the physician, the hospital, and the health care system. These events add significantly to morbidity, mortality, and the cost of care of the general thoracic surgery patient. A proactive approach to identify patients at high risk for such complications is needed. In this manner, one may enhance prevention and treatment if problems occur. A thoughtful and complete preoperative risk assessment can identify patients who have potential contributing comorbidities, leading to a reduced incidence of postoperative events. Standardization of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care can reduce postoperative events. Implementation of guidelines and pathways that are evidence based can lead to enhanced patient care, better patient and staff satisfaction, and improved outcomes from the operation. Although postoperative cardiac events cannot be completely eliminated from the thoracic surgery population, the prevention, treatment, and follow-up strategies outlined herein can attenuate these significant morbid and mortal events.