Clinical Practice Guidelines on Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation: collaborative efforts among the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the European Society of Cardiology

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This editorial refers to ‘2014 ESC/ESA Guidelines on non-cardiac surgery: cardiovascular assessment and management’^†, by The Joint Task Force on non-cardiac surgery: cardiovascular assessment and management of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA), on page 2383.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) are pleased to announce the publication of two new versions of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) on Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation from our respective organizations.^1–3

These revisions were begun independently, dictated both by emerging, new information regarding the topic and the controversy regarding the legitimacy of data from previously published pivotal trials. Accordingly, the leadership of these international organizations recognized the importance of scientific collaboration and writing committee coordination for the benefit of the worldwide cardiology community. A joint statement was therefore posted in August 2013^4–6 to indicate that the respective CPGs were under revision and to provide some guidance regarding perioperative beta-blockade therapy in the interim.