Preoperative investigations and imaging for cardiac surgical patients

Abstract

Cardiac surgery poses several unique challenges for perioperative physicians and surgeons, and thorough preoperative assessment and investigation are imperative. Meticulous preoperative assessment and investigations allow selection of appropriate surgical procedures, identification of patients at high risk of perioperative complications, and crafting individualized perioperative care plans for these patients. Our review describes many facets of pre-operative investigations for patients undergoing cardiac surgery, highlighting their importance and limitations.