Background: An abnormal ECG often must be assessed preoperatively in the absence of prior tracings. We surveyed anesthesiologists to determine if their concern about nonspecific ST-T (NSST) wave changes is influenced significantly by the availability of a prior ECG for comparison.
Methods: Forty-eight anesthesiologists rated their concern (O=none, 1=minor, 2=moderate, 3=marked) about a patient with an intermediate cardiac risk factor and new NSST, NSST of indeterminate duration (no old ECG for comparison), or old NSST.
Results: Concern for patients with more recent development of NSST was significantly greater for each of the interage comparisons; P=0.019 for new vs indeterminate, P=0.003 for new vs old, and P=0.008 for indeterminate vs old. This was associated with increased tendency to obtain cardiology consultation.
Conclusions: The efficiency of preoperative assessment of patients with NSST on ECG would be improved by consistent availability of prior ECG tracings to enable determination of the newness of current findings.