[Preoperative cardiological evaluation. Report of 255 cases]

To study preoperative cardiological consultations in a cardiology referral center in a general hospital.

Two hundred and fifty five patients were studied between June and December 1989; the ages ranged between 16 and 82 (mean 55) years, 120 (47%) were male and 135 (53%) female. A questionnaire was applied by the physicians during consultation.

Main symptoms were thoracic pain in 30 (11.8%) cases, dyspnea in 57 (22.4%), palpitations in 13 (5.1%). Symptoms of cardiac disease were absent in 141 (55.3%) patients. On physical examination arterial hypertension was detected in 75 (29.4%) cases and a cardiac murmur in 21 (8.2%). Diagnosis of coronary artery disease was made in 30 (11.8%) cases--13 (5.1%) with history of previous myocardial infarction, aortic valve stenosis in 5 (1.9%), other valvular heart diseases in 14 (5.5%), cardiac arrhythmias in 11 (4.3%). Heart disease was absent in 90 (35.4%) patients. Sixty-five (25.5%) patients were on drug therapy for heart diseases. Consultations were obtained for patients that had been already admitted to the hospital in 171 (67%) cases. Cardiological follow up was recommended to 150 (58.8%) patients. Seven patients died; the cause of the death was related to the primary disease. Contraindication for surgery imposed by cardiological evaluation did not occur.

In this study, patients with heart disease tolerated the surgical procedures. Preoperative cardiological evaluation added useful data for postoperative care and also for long term follow-up of the patients.