Heart Health
Upcoming surgery? You may not need any heart tests beforehand
Even in people with heart disease, presurgical cardiac testing should be the exception, not the rule.
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
If you've ever had surgery, you may recall having a preoperative evaluation, sometimes referred to as "clearance" for surgery. These check-ups take place prior to a planned noncardiac surgery and typically include a physical exam and a detailed medical history. You may also get blood tests and x-rays. And you might have an electrocardiogram (ECG), a quick, painless test that records your heart's electrical activity. But what's the real purpose of a presurgical ECG — and when does getting this test actually make sense?
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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