POSTOPERATIVE MYOCARDIAL-ISCHEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH RECENT MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

Fifteen patients (10 men and five women; mean age 67.3 yr) with a history of a recent (< 1 yr) myocardial infarction underwent ambulatory ECG monitoring for 5 days after non-cardiac surgery. The duration, number and severity of ischaemic episodes were maximal within the first 12 h after surgery and again on the 3rd day after operation. The difference in the duration of ischaemic episodes between the 2nd and 3rd days after operation was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There were no perioperative mycardial infarctions and all patients were discharged from hospital.