Cardiovascular risk factors in patients for vascular surgery.

Various attempts have made been made to quantify the cardiovascular risk factors associated with anaesthesia and surgery. Two such schemes are the "Multifactorial Index of Cardiac Risk" developed by Goldman et al., and the one devised by Cooperman et al. The validity of these two schemes in relation to anaesthesia for vascular surgery was investigated by carrying out a prospective study of 100 patients. Cooperman's scheme was found to be much more accurate than Goldman's scheme in assessing patient risk. The study confirms the impression that the vascular patient falls into a higher risk group than most other surgical patients with regard to cardiovascular complications.