ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the health issues related to the cardiovascular system. It also explains aetiology, pathophysiology, preoperative management, history, examination, investigations, preoperative strategies and postoperative strategies. The issues include aortic stenosis, atrial septal defects, coronary artery disease, cardiac conduction defects, cardiomyopathies, congenital heart disease in adult life, heart failure, hypertension, mitral valve disease, myocardial reperfusion injury, pulmonary hypertension, tetralogy of fallot and noncardiac surgery in the transplanted heart patient. Calcific aortic valve disease is the most common cause, ranging from aortic sclerosis, with thickening of the leaflets, to aortic stenosis where obstruction of the left ventricular outflow occurs. Although coronary artery disease (CAD) is no longer the greatest cause of mortality in the UK it remains a major cause of perioperative mortality and morbidity. The presence of structural or ischaemic heart disease increases further the risk of perioperative arrhythmias. A cardiomyopathy is defined as a change to the heart muscle that results in structural and functional abnormalities.
