Wait as Long as Possible for Noncardiac Surgery After Stroke

Stroke is a known risk factor for adverse perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. Whether this relation is time dependent is unclear.

Researchers in Denmark examined a nationwide cohort of adult patients who underwent elective noncardiac surgery between 2005 and 2011. Of the almost half a million patients who underwent noncardiac surgery, 1.5% had histories of stroke (those with prior transient ischemic attacks or hemorrhagic stroke were excluded). Compared with patients who never experienced strokes, those who had prior strokes had higher risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal ischemic stroke, and cardiovascular-related death):

• Stroke within 3 mont…