Cardiac Reserve Index Score

Anesthesia or surgical operation has high risk of re-infarction in acute phase of post myocardial infarction (MI) period (Steen & Tarham 1978). When emergency operation becomes necessary in these critically ill patients, proper evaluation of patient cardiac state is required to avoid the recurrence. Cardiac reserve index (CRI) score, comprising patient physical activity and stress testing, was examined in 9 patients with early stage of MI (within 6 months) to evaluate the revasculization. ECG was monitored on ST segment changes during the test. If impossible to test, daily changes of ST segment were substituted for the test. In this assessment, all the patients were scored 1 to 2 and had no recurrence of MI after operation. The results, suggesting that there is a significant correlation between the CRI score and re-infarction, warrant this scoring as a first test for acute MI patient prior to anesthesia. Furthermore, we noted the efficacy of vasodilators, e. g. nitroglycerin, or nifedipine. This agrees to the latest reports on those pharmaceutical effect. These drugs should be used in anesthesia as prophylaxis.