1. What is the Revised Cardiac Risk Index?

The Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) is a clinical prediction rule that estimates a patient's risk of experiencing major cardiac complications following non-cardiac surgery. It evaluates six independent risk factors to calculate a risk score.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator sums the number of risk factors present:

Risk factors include:

• High-risk surgery (intraperitoneal, intrathoracic, or suprainguinal vascular procedures)
• History of ischemic heart disease
• History of congestive heart failure
• History of cerebrovascular disease
• Insulin therapy for diabetes
• Preoperative serum creatinine >2.0 mg/dL

3. Importance of RCRI Calculation

Details: The RCRI helps clinicians stratify cardiac risk before non-cardiac surgery, guide preoperative testing and management, and inform patients about their surgical risk.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Select all risk factors that apply to the patient. The calculator will automatically sum the points and provide the corresponding risk classification and estimated complication rate.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What constitutes high-risk surgery?
A: Intraperitoneal, intrathoracic, or suprainguinal vascular procedures are considered high-risk surgeries.

Q2: How is the RCRI different from the original cardiac risk index?
A: The RCRI updated the original index with more contemporary data and simplified the risk factors to six key predictors.

Q3: What are considered major cardiac complications?
A: Myocardial infarction, pulmonary edema, ventricular fibrillation, primary cardiac arrest, and complete heart block.

Q4: Can the RCRI be used for emergency surgery?
A: The RCRI was validated for elective non-cardiac surgery. Its accuracy in emergency settings may be limited.

Q5: Are there limitations to the RCRI?
A: The RCRI may underestimate risk in certain populations and doesn't account for all potential risk factors like functional capacity or specific ECG abnormalities.