The tests can pose risks!
Preoperative imaging tests are usually very safe and can be done with little or no radiation. But if you’re unlikely to have a heart problem, they may produce false-positive results (indicating you have heart disease when you actually do NOT) that could prompt anxiety, additional risky testing, and a delay of your surgery. For instance, they might be followed up with coronary angiography (cardiac catheterization), a test that uses dye and X-rays to look at your heart vessels. While the risk from any one test may be acceptable, risks are cumulative and can cause harm down the road so it’s best to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure or invasive procedures.
When are the tests needed before surgery?
An imaging test may be ordered even for low-risk surgery if you have a severe heart condition or you’re experiencing symptoms that could be heart-related, such as chest pain, breathing difficulty, or a loss of stamina. They may also be considered prior to intermediate-risk surgery (such as knee or hip replacement) or high-risk surgery (such as a bypass operation for leg artery blockages) in people who have risk factors—including diabetes, kidney disease, or a history of coronary artery disease, heart failure or stroke, and who have poor exercise tolerance making it hard to assess heart-related symptoms or can’t walk a short distance or climb stairs without experiencing heart-related symptoms.
Make sure to talk to your family health care provider and surgeon regarding your individual needs.