Cardiac Fitness

Heart Tests Before Surgery in India - Essential Cardiac Tests Explained

Before any major surgery, your team needs to know if your heart is healthy enough for the procedure and the recovery. This short explains some of the common tests used to assess your cardiac fitness.

Why these tests are needed

• Surgery is a stress. Any surgery places significant stress on your body, particularly your heart. These tests check if your heart can handle this stress.
• Anaesthesia risks. General anaesthesia affects your heart rate and blood pressure. Your anaesthetist needs to know your baseline cardiac health to keep you safe.
• Hidden conditions. You may have an undiagnosed heart condition that could cause complications. These tests can help to identify such issues beforehand.
• Planning your care. The results help your entire medical team to plan the safest approach for your operation and recovery.

Common pre-operative heart tests

The specific tests you need depend on your age, your general health, and the type of surgery you are having.

• ECG (Electrocardiogram). This is a simple, painless test that records the electrical activity of your heart. It can detect problems with heart rhythm and signs of a previous heart attack.
• Echocardiogram. This is an ultrasound scan of your heart. It shows how your heart's chambers and valves are pumping blood and can help assess your overall heart function.
• Stress test. This involves monitoring your heart with an ECG while you walk on a treadmill. It shows how your heart performs under physical stress, which mimics the stress of surgery.
• Blood tests. Certain markers in your blood can indicate heart muscle damage or other risk factors for heart disease.

The decision on which tests are necessary is made on a case-by-case basis. A specialist can only provide advice after reviewing your medical history, current reports, and recent imaging.