2024 EACTS Guidelines on perioperative medication in adult cardiac surgery
Adult cardiac surgery is an essential therapeutic approach to reduce short- and long-term mortality and morbidity in patients with acute or chronic cardiac diseases.
Intorduction
Adult cardiac surgery is an essential therapeutic approach to reduce short- and long-term mortality and morbidity in patients with acute or chronic cardiac diseases. The outcomes after cardiac surgery rely not only on patient selection and surgical expertise, but also on the management of underlying conditions as well as on the pharmacological prevention and treatment of complications. Therefore, perioperative medical treatment and prophylaxis are key factors in ensuring the perioperative and longterm success of cardiac surgery and in impacting a patient’s quality of life and healthcare costs. Pharmacological therapy affects outcome(s) after adult cardiac surgery across 3 distinct stages: preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative (1).
The main objective of this guideline is to provide accessible and essential information not only to clinicians and surgeons but also to other professionals involved in the care of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, ensuring streamlined critical appraisal of evidence in a productive and interactive multi-expertise environment. Additionally, it provides evidence-based recommendations and identifies gaps in evidence, thereby paving the way to and offering the rationale for future research.