Indications for cardiology consultation and management of cardiac patients who will undergo surgical or endoscopic procedures: the proposal of the University Hospital of Trieste, Italy

The number of patients affected by cardiovascular disease admitted to internal medicine and geriatric wards is expanding due to the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the ageing population. This contributes to a growing demand for cardiology consult visits, with requests for perioperative risk stratification for non-cardiac surgery or endoscopy, and general clinical management. This document was jointly drafted by the Cardiology and Anesthesiology departments, medical and surgical departments, and endoscopy services of the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "Ospedali Riuniti" in Trieste (Italy). It addresses critical issues such as antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in non-cardiac surgery, electric device management, and prophylaxis of bacterial endocarditis. It provides general guidelines and appropriateness criteria, prompted by the Joint Commission International and approved by the Hospital Guidelines Committee. It provides a basis for periodic educational meetings, and will be periodically updated. Periodic audits will monitor its application, and critical and controversial points, in order to promote quality of health care, organizational efficiency, and appropriateness.