Role of Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography for Preoperative Cardiac Risk Assessment Before Major Vascular Surgery: A Diagnostic Tool Comes of Age

Background: Cardiac complications are a major cause for perioperative mortality and morbidity Also, the presence and severity of underlying coronary artery disease (CAD) determine long‐ten prognosis after successful surgery. Aim: This overview evaluates the additional value ofdobutamir, stress echocardiography (DSE) to common clinical cardiac risk factors and other noninvasii cardiac imaging modalities for perioperative and late cardiac prognosis. Results: DSE provides tl attending physician with preoperative prognostic information for perioperative and long‐ten prognosis for cardiac events. It also enables the selection of high risk patients for evaluation i cardiac risk reduction therapies. Conclusions: DSE is a useful tool for preoperative cardiac ris evaluation in addition to common clinical cardiac risk factors. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Vo ume 17, January 2000)