PATIENT INFORMATION
Heart disease
What to tell the team
- Previous heart attacks, angina, heart failure, rhythm problems or valve disease
- Pacemakers or defibrillators
- Coronary stents or bypass surgery, and the dates
- All heart medicines, including blood thinners
- The name of your cardiologist and your most recent heart reports
Symptoms that are particularly important
New symptoms such as chest pain, fainting or worsening breathlessness are particularly important. So are palpitations, swollen ankles, breathlessness when lying flat, or a recent decrease in how far you can walk.
What the assessment is trying to do
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.
You may be asked how much activity you can manage, such as climbing stairs or walking uphill. This is a simple but useful guide to how your heart copes with stress.
Possible outcomes
Most people with stable heart disease can have surgery with appropriate planning. Some may need a cardiology opinion, a change in medicines, extra monitoring, or a planned stay in a higher level of care after surgery.
Contact a doctor promptly if
You develop chest pain, fainting or sudden breathlessness. Do not wait for your surgical appointment.