Author(s): Sule Ozbilgin MD, Belkis Sasmaz MD, Gunes Eskidemir MD, Volkan Hanci MD, Sevda Ozkardesler MD, and Bahar Kuvaki MD
Postoperative myocardial infarction (PMI) is associated with mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing cardiac or noncardiac surgery. In this case report a patient with PMI and cardiac arrest with successful outcome is presented. Aspirin should not be routinely discontinued for elective noncardiac surgery, and the risks of stopping aspirin should be evaluated more seriously. Cardiac arrest in the postoperative care unit (PACU) may have better prognosis because diagnosis and apropriate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be performed immediately.