South African cardiovascular risk stratification guideline for non-cardiac surgery

Abstract

The South African guidelines for the cardiac patient for non-cardiac surgery guidelines were developed to address the need for cardiac risk assessment and risk stratification for elective noncardiac surgical patients in South Africa, and more broadly in Africa.

The guidelines were developed by updating the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines on Perioperative Cardiac Risk Assessment and Management for Patients Who Undergo Non-Cardiac Surgery, with a search of literature from African countries and recent publications. The updated proposed guidelines were then evaluated in a Delphi consensus process by South African anaesthesia and vascular surgical experts.