PATIENT INFORMATION
Heart disease
Tell the anaesthesia team about previous heart attacks, angina, heart failure, rhythm problems, valve disease, pacemakers/defibrillators, coronary stents and all heart medicines. New symptoms such as chest pain, fainting or worsening breathlessness are particularly important.
The purpose of preoperative cardiac assessment is not to perform every possible heart test. It is to identify active problems, estimate perioperative risk and decide whether additional testing or treatment would change care.