Researchers examined 328 patients over a three year period by measuring troponin levels on the first three days after surgery in order to determine if there was a correlation between raised troponin levels and long-term cardiac outcomes. The study found that modified postoperative care lead to increased myocardial ischemia episodes based on raised troponin levels.
As a result, researchers concluded that reducing the incidences of myocardial ischemia lowers the incidences of cardiac problems months or years later. Physicians could use troponin levels as an indicator for the patient’s postoperative care policy.
Read the abstract for the study on troponin levels.
Read more coverage on postoperative care for orthopedic surgery:
– Researchers Recommend Angiography After Spine Surgery
– Dartmouth Anesthesiologists’ Surveillance System Decreases Post-Op ICU Visits
– Johns Hopkins Study: Lighter Sedation Could Safely Reduce Postoperative Delirium Risk in Elderly
