Question

A 68-year-year-old man scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (intermediate-risk surgery) can climb two flights of stairs without symptoms (≈6 METs) and has no active cardiac conditions; RCRI=0. Best next step?

Accepted Answer

Proceed to surgery without further cardiac testing

Answer

Cancel surgery and obtain coronary angiography

Answer

Order pharmacologic stress test before surgery

Answer

Start perioperative high-dose beta blocker on the day of surgery

Answer

Delay surgery for 30 days while initiating statin therapy

Practice question

A 68-year-year-old man scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (intermediate-risk surgery) can climb two flights of stairs without symptoms (≈6 METs) and has no active cardiac conditions; RCRI=0. Best next step?