Cardiac Surgery in Cancer Patients: Clinical Dilemmas and Decision-Making Challenges
Kalliopi Keramida1, Dorothea Tsekoura2, Apostolοs Roubelakis3
1General Anticancer Oncological Hospital, Agios Savvas, 11522 Athens, Greece.
Cancers
|March 14, 2026
Summary
Cardiac surgery in cancer patients presents unique risks, but can be lifesaving for carefully selected individuals. Multidisciplinary teams are crucial for balancing cardiac needs with cancer treatment and prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Cardio-oncology
Background:
- Growing population of cancer survivors developing cardiovascular disease.
- Need for cardiac surgery in patients with active or prior cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- Synthesize evidence on cardiac surgery in cancer patients.
- Address heightened risks and management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of observational studies, registries, meta-analyses, and guidelines.
- Focus on contemporary evidence.
Main Results:
- Cancer patients face increased risks (hypercoagulability, bleeding, frailty, prior treatments).
- Conventional risk scores underestimate operative risk; cancer-specific factors are key.
- Timing balances cardiac urgency and oncologic priorities; minimally invasive approaches are vital.
- Outcomes depend heavily on cancer stage and prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac surgery can be life-saving for selected cancer patients, enabling further oncologic therapy.
- Advanced cancer requires careful risk-benefit assessment, prioritizing quality of life.
- Multidisciplinary cardio-oncology teams and patient-centered decisions are essential.
Keywords:
cancer survivorscardiac surgerycardio-oncologyfrailtymultidisciplinary decision-makingperioperative managementsurgical risk stratificationtranscatheter cardiac interventionsMore Related Videos
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