Perioperative risk assessment among patients with congestive heart failure: a call for guidelines.

Each year, more than 10 million major noncardiac surgical procedures are performed in the United States. Current perioperative risk assessment focusing on ischemic heart disease and adherence to practice guidelines reduces morbidity and mortality. An estimated 10 million people in the United States suffer from ventricular dysfunction (class B), and half are symptomatic (class C), despite medical therapy.