Acute myocardial infarction after noncardiac surgery

Abstract

Over 230 million surgeries are performed annually worldwide, cardiac complications being the most common causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality. As life expectancy has extended worldwide, a growing number of patients with multiple comorbidities have undergone noncardiac surgeries. Consequently, cardiovascular complications associated with those procedures are expected to increase, and perioperative acute myocardial infarction (AMI) might become a frequent problem. In Brazil, the number of noncardiac surgical procedures has also increased, and approximately three million surgeries are performed annually. Despite advances in surgical and anesthetic techniques, mortality and costs related to those procedures have also increased, thus, requiring the development of strategies to reduce mortality(4). The occurrence of perioperative AMI prolongs the need for intensive care and the hospital length of stay, increases the cost of hospitalization, and reduces long-term survival. This literature review approaches the pathophysiology, incidence, diagnosis and treatment of perioperative AMI based on current evidence.