Low Utility of Dobutamine Stress Echocardiograms in the Preoperative Evaluation of Patients Scheduled for Noncardiac Surgery

Abstract

This study was a retrospective review of 85 patient charts that found a low cost-effectiveness of using American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for obtaining preoperative dobutamine stress echocardiograms. Suggested modifications of these guidelines should improve their specificity with no loss in sensitivity.