A simple blood test which measures troponin, an enzyme known to play a role in cardiac complications, can identify patients who are at greater risk of a cardiac event following orthopedic surgery. This test is necessary because orthopedic patients with ischemic heart disease are at risk for postoperative cardiac complications. Recently, researchers have found that there is a high incidence of myocardial ischemia (defined by an elevated troponin level) after major orthopedic surgery in patients with cardiac risk factors.
A cardiac protein, troponin, is released into the blood during cardiac injury. Plasma elevations in the enzyme troponin I (cTnI) are associated with myocardial events after major surgery and have been shown to be a more specific marker for cardiac injury compared to others. Methods For one year, at an orthopedic hospital, all postoperative patients with a measured cTnI…
