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© 1983 Oxford University Press

research-article

THE ROLE OF THE ROUTINE PRE-OPERATIVE ELECTRO-CARDIOGRAM IN THE ELDERLY SURGICAL PATIENT

D. G. SEYMOUR, Senior Registrar in Geriartric Medicine*, R. PRINGLE, Consultant Surgeon and W. J. MACLENNAN, Senior Lecturer In Geriatric Medicine

Royal Victoria Hospital Jedburgh Road, Dundee DD2 1SP, Scotland
Ninewells Hospital and Medical School Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland

*Present address: University Department of Geriatric Medicine, West Wing, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Newport Road, Cardiff CF2 1SZ.

In a group of 222 general surgical patients aged 65 years and over, only 21% had a normal pre-operative electrocardiogram (e.c.g.) and 53% had a major pre-operative e.c.g. abnormality. The clinical significance of these findings was evaluated by observing the post-operative cardiovascular complications and e.c.g. changes which occurred.

It was concluded that a routine pre-operative e.c.g. should be carried out in all elderly surgical patients (1) as a baseline measurement to aid interpretation of post-operative e.c.g. changes and (2) as a means of detecting patients with acute myocardial infarctions or serious arrhythmias in whom surgery should be deferred. As a method of predicting post-operative cardiovascular complications, however, the pre-operative e.c.g. appears to be of no value in elderly men and of only limited value in elderly women.


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