[Diagnosis and Management of Perioperative Myocardial Ischemia after Elective Aortic Aneurysm Surgery].

Introduction: Perioperative myocardial ischemia (PMI) is a serious postoperative complication. Aortic operations represent an especially high-risk surgery concerning cardiac complications. This aim of this study was to analyse the clinical features of PMI after elective aortic aneurysm surgery.

Patients and methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of 863 patients who underwent elective aortic aneurysm surgery between 2005 and 2012 in the Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery of Heidelberg University Hospital with regard to PMI. The PMI diagnosis was based on a positive serum troponin diagnostic test. We evaluated the clinical course, time point of the diagnosis and features of diagnostics to characterise PMI. Moreover, we analysed the treatment options and management of the patients' discharge.

Results: Thirty-one patients (3.6% of 863) with PMI after elective aortic aneurysm surgery were identified. Of these, 21 patients (67.7%) underwent open surgery and 10 patients (32.3%) received endovascular treatment. PMI was diagnosed in 24 patients (77%) during the first 3 days. More than half of these patients (16/31) were clinically asymptomatic. Electrocardiogram did not show pathological findings in 24 cases (77.4%). The first troponin measurement was not elevated in eight patients (25.8%). Drug therapy alone was used in 17 cases (54.8%) of PMI, coronary catheterisation was performed in 12 patients (38.7%) and two patients (6.5%) received aortocoronary bypass. Fourteen patients (45.1%) were discharged home and another 14 patients (44.1%) were transferred to another hospital or to a rehabilitation institution. Two patients died because of multi-organ failure.

Conclusion: PMI is not a rare complication after elective aortic surgery. The diagnosis of PMI can be challenging because of occult symptoms especially in a perioperative setting. Due to the potentially serious consequences, cardiac enzyme diagnostics should be initiated immediately if there is suspicion of PMI or routinely in defined at-risk patients after aortic surgery.