Clinical Relevance of Cardiac Troponin Assessment in Patients Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a frequent complication of carotid endarterectomy (CEA), yet most events are silent. Routine post-operative monitoring of cardiac troponin was implemented to facilitate timely recognition of MI and stratify high risk patients. The aim was to evaluate the incidence of troponin elevation after CEA and its association with adverse cardiovascular events. METHODS: This analysis included patients ≥60 years old who underwent CEA, whose troponin-I levels were routinely monitored post-operatively and were included in a cohort study that assessed clinical outcomes. A clinical troponin cutoff of 60 ng/L was used. The primary endpoint was the composite of MI, stroke, and cardiovascular death. Secondary endpoints were MI, stroke, coronary intervention, cardiovascular death, and all cause death. RESULTS: 225 consecutive patients were included in the analysis. Troponin elevation occurred in 34 patients (15%) and a post-operative MI was diagnosed in eight patients. After a median follow up of 1.8 years (IQR 1.0-2.6), the primary endpoint occurred in 29% of patients with troponin elevation versus 6.3% without (HR 5.6, 95% CI 2.4-13), MI in 24% versus 1.6% (HR 18.0, 95% CI 4.7-68), stroke in 5.9% versus 4.2% (HR 1.4, 95% CI 0.3-6.7), coronary intervention in 5.9% versus 2.6% (HR 2.7, 95% CI 0.5-14), cardiovascular death in 5.9% versus 0.5% (HR 11.8, 95% CI 1.1-131), and all cause death in 15% versus 5.8% (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.0-8.7), respectively. Incidences of the primary endpoint and all cause mortality in patients with a post-operative MI versus "troponin only" were 25% versus 7.7% and 25% versus 12%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Troponin elevation after CEA occurred in 15% of patients. The incidence of adverse cardiovascular events was significantly higher in patients with troponin elevation, which was mainly attributable to silent non-ST segment elevation MIs that occurred in the early post-operative phase.

Medication discontinuity errors in the perioperative period.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate withdrawal or continuation of medication in the perioperative period is associated with an increased risk for adverse events. To reduce this risk, it is important that patients take their regular medication as prescribed. We evaluated this treatment objective by studying the frequency and reasons for errors related to medication discontinuity in the perioperative period. METHODS: Patients scheduled for non-cardiac surgery were included in this cross-sectional study. Perioperative medication intake was assessed at the holding area of the operation theatre complex and on the ward during the first 24 h after surgery. Medication intake data were obtained from medical records and by questioning patients and compared with pre-operative instructions. RESULTS: The study included 701 patients, of whom 485 (69%) used regular medication. Medication was incorrectly taken or discontinued before surgery in 27% of the patients. In 57% of these patients, the reason for incorrect intake was an unclear or a falsely understood instruction before surgery. Post-operative medication errors occurred in 26% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Medication errors occur frequently in the perioperative period, even in the era of an electronic medication file. Errors in prescription, administration and intake of medication are not easily solved because no single health care professional is responsible for adequate intake of medication in surgical patients. The anaesthesiologist should take on a more prominent role in regulating perioperative medication intake in surgical patients.