Ankle-brachial index estimating cardiac complications after general surgery

Author(s)

Gabriel Assis Lopes do Carmo

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD)
• Defense date: 2014-04-25

Examining board members

Bruno Caramelli; Ivan Benaduce Casella; Maristela Camargo Monachini; Antonio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro

• Advisor: Bruno Caramelli

Abstract

Perioperative evaluation is an important step before referring a patient to surgery. Scores and algorithms can help during this process. However, most of them were developed in different context that may not represent the actual medical scenario. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) can quantify cardiovascular risk in general population. It is inexpensive and easy to perform in office care and could be useful before surgery. This is a prospective and observational study that evaluated intermediate to high cardiovascular risk patients referred for general surgery. ABI were performed in all patients before surgery. A value <= 0.9 was considered abnormal and defined the peripheral artery disease group, and the remaining patients constituted the control group. Troponin-I and electrocardiogram were provided in the first 72 hours. All patients were followed for 30 days and primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular events (cardiovascular mortality, acute coronary syndrome, isolated troponin elevation, decompensated heart failure, cardiogenic shock, unstable arrhythmias, non fatal cardiac arrest, pulmonary edema, stroke and peripheral artery disease decompensation). We evaluated 132 patients (61.3% male; mean age 65.4 years). During the specified period 57.9% of patients with ABI <= 0.9 had a cardiovascular event vs 25.7% in the control group (p=0.011). After logistic regression, the odds ratio (OR) was 7.4 (CI 95% 2.2-25.0, p=0.001) and Hosmer-Lemeshow P=0.626. Isolated troponin elevation was the main event (78.9%). Secondary analysis revealed an OR of 13.4 for the occurrence of secondary endpoint after logistic regression (CI 95% 3.0-59.9, p=0.001) and Hosmer-Lemeshow P = 0.922. In conclusion, in the perioperative setting, an abnormal ankle-brachial index is associated with a worse cardiovascular prognosis, especially due to isolated troponin elevation (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/22944-5 - Ankle brachial index as a predictor of post operative cardiovascular complications in non cardiac surgery
• Grantee: Gabriel Assis Lopes do Carmo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)