RESTING ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC VERSUS STRESS ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC TESTING FOR PREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CATARACT SURGERY WITH INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANTATION

Abstract

Coronary artery disease continues to be a major health problem in all populations. It is the most common cause of cardiac morbidity and mortality. Moreover, it increases the perioperative risk. Patients with, or at risk of, CAD are particularly vulnerable to develop perioperati ve cardiac morbidity in the form of unstable angina, MI, CHF, serious dysrhythmias, or cardiac arrest. The problem is that IHD is common in asymptomatic patients and in those with normal resting ECG. Up to 70% occlusion of one or more coronaries may be present in the absence of symptoms, or ECG abnormality. Therefore, if it is possible to predict from the history, detect by specialized tests, and treat these silent ischaemic episodes, the perioperative risk will be definitely diminished. The present study was carried out in the Ophthalmology department in Alexandria Main University Hospital with the aim of determining whether preoperative ECG is enough in the preoperative evaluation of the risk of CAD, and if not, in what particular patients should further investigations (stress ECG) be performed pre -operatively.