Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9880
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2155-9880
+44 1300 500008
Michael Jacka
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JCEC
As the world population increases and ages, the surgical population at risk of morbid- ity and mortality increases exponentially. As surgery represents a major infl amma- tory and hemodynamic physiologic stress, it is no surprise that a major source of periop- erative morbidity is vascular occlusion in the myocardial and cerebral circulations. Un- derstanding this prevalence with attention to its prevention will be key to optimization of patient outcomes. Numerous published risk indices have probably underestimated the actual magnitude of this problem. Preventive manoeuvres that have been considered and proven benefi cial through large population-based investigations remain few. Small trials of numerous interventions have led to confusing results that may be counterproductive. Th e latter include trials of alternative anesthesia techniques (e.g. epidural), catecholamine-modifying therapy (e.g. beta blockade), and antiplatelet therapy (aspirin). Th e recent publication of a large trial of preoperative beta blockade in fact found an increase in mortality with an intervention that had intuitively been thought ben - efi cial, and suspected to be benefi cial in small biased trials. Consequently, the imperative of large defi nitive trials was proven. Since publication of this large trial that disproved the mythology of empiric preoperative beta blockade, further investigation has been directed at antiplatelet agents and catecholamine-modifying therapy.
Michael Jacka completed his MD at Queen?s University in Kingston Ontario, and MSc at the University of Toronto. He is fellowshi p trained in anaesthesiology and critical care. His major research interest is in the prevention and treatment of myocardial infarction amon g the critically ill. His practice is at the University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton.