Skip to main content
Cardiolucent

Service

Preoperative Cardiac Evaluation

Assessments & Care Plans

A focused preoperative cardiac evaluation surfaces and addresses cardiac risk before the operating room, not after. Dr. Kedan follows the ACC/AHA guideline framework — combining your history, functional capacity, the nature of the planned surgery, and targeted testing — to produce a clear risk profile, a specific perioperative medication plan, and written clearance that the surgical team can use directly.

What's Included

  • ACC/AHA guideline-based preoperative risk stratification
  • Focused cardiovascular history and physical examination
  • EKG, POCUS, and resting echocardiography
  • Stress imaging when functional capacity is limited or surgery is high-risk
  • Detailed medication review — anticoagulants, antiplatelets, beta-blockers, diabetes meds
  • Written perioperative medication plan with hold/restart instructions
  • Formal written clearance and recommendations addressed to the surgical team

How This Helps You

You enter surgery with cardiac risk identified, quantified, and optimized — not assumed. Decisions about anticoagulants, antiplatelets, beta-blockade, and timing are made deliberately in advance rather than improvised on the morning of the procedure. If the workup uncovers a problem that should be treated first, that decision happens before the OR, when options are still open.

Who This Is For

  • Patients with known cardiovascular disease facing non-cardiac surgery
  • Patients with recent cardiac events or interventions
  • People with significant risk factors — diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease
  • Patients with limited functional capacity or unexplained exertional symptoms
  • Anyone scheduled for higher-risk procedures (vascular, thoracic, major orthopedic, complex abdominal)
  • Patients on anticoagulants or antiplatelets who need a perioperative plan
  • Patients whose surgeon or anesthesiologist has specifically requested cardiac clearance

What to Expect at Your Visit

Ideally scheduled 2–4 weeks before surgery to allow time for additional testing and medication adjustments. The visit runs 60+ minutes and includes history, exam, EKG, POCUS, and echocardiogram on the same day. The surgical team receives a written report covering risk stratification, test results, specific perioperative medication recommendations, intraoperative considerations, and postoperative monitoring suggestions.

Why Cardiolucent

The concierge model is built for fast turnaround — urgent and time-pressured preoperative evaluations are routine here. If the workup reveals something that needs further investigation, Dr. Kedan can coordinate same-day or next-day imaging and Cedars-Sinai subspecialty input rather than pushing your surgery back by weeks. The written clearance is structured so surgeons and anesthesiologists can act on it without translation.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a preoperative cardiac evaluation?
It's a focused cardiology assessment performed before non-cardiac surgery to estimate your cardiac risk and optimize your heart for the procedure. Dr. Kedan follows the ACC/AHA guideline framework — combining your history, functional capacity, the nature of the surgery, and targeted testing — to produce a clear preoperative risk profile and written clearance. The goal is to surface and address risk before the operating room, not after.
Who needs preoperative cardiac clearance?
Patients with known cardiovascular disease, recent cardiac events, significant risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease), poor functional capacity, or a planned higher-risk surgery typically need formal evaluation. Younger, asymptomatic patients with no risk factors often don't require extensive workup. Dr. Kedan tailors the depth of the evaluation to your individual risk rather than running a one-size-fits-all panel.
What testing is typically involved?
Most evaluations include a focused history and exam, EKG, and a resting echocardiogram. Stress imaging may be added when functional capacity is limited or the surgery is high-risk. A medication review — particularly of anticoagulants, antiplatelets, beta-blockers, and diabetes medications — is part of every preoperative visit. Tests are ordered to answer specific questions, not as a reflex.
How far in advance of surgery should I be evaluated?
Ideally 2–4 weeks before your scheduled procedure, which leaves time for additional testing if needed and for medication adjustments to take effect. Urgent or earlier evaluations can be accommodated when needed — the concierge model is built for fast turnaround. Call (310) 304-5555 as soon as your surgery date is set.
Will I need to stop my medications before surgery?
Some, yes. Anticoagulants and certain antiplatelet agents often need to be paused or bridged before surgery, while drugs like beta-blockers and statins are usually continued. Dr. Kedan provides a specific perioperative medication plan in writing that you and the surgical team can follow. Decisions balance bleeding risk against thrombotic risk for your specific situation.
What if you find a problem during the evaluation?
If significant findings emerge — new symptoms, a concerning stress test, or evidence of untreated coronary disease — Dr. Kedan coordinates with your surgeon and the appropriate Cedars-Sinai specialists to decide whether to optimize first or proceed as planned. The point of the evaluation is exactly this: to make those decisions before surgery, not during recovery.
What does the surgical team receive?
The team receives a written report covering your risk stratification, test results, specific perioperative medication recommendations, intraoperative considerations, and any postoperative monitoring suggestions. The format is structured so surgeons and anesthesiologists can use it directly without translation.
Does clearance guarantee a safe surgery?
No evaluation can promise zero risk, but a thorough preoperative workup substantially reduces preventable cardiac complications. Clearance reflects an informed judgment that the expected benefit of the surgery outweighs the cardiac risk, with the plan structured to minimize that risk. Dr. Kedan walks you through what the residual risk actually is rather than hiding it behind a single "cleared" stamp.
Is preoperative evaluation covered by insurance?
Cardiolucent does not accept Medicare or insurance and bills patients directly. We provide a detailed superbill for the visit that you can submit to your insurance carrier for out-of-network reimbursement; associated labs and imaging are often still billable through your standard insurance. Call (310) 304-5555 with specific billing questions.

Explore

Related Services

Ready to learn more about Preoperative Cardiac Evaluation?

Schedule a private consultation with Dr. Kedan in Beverly Hills.
Schedule an Appointment

Medical Disclaimer

The information on this site is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reading this site does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personal guidance. If this is an emergency, call 911. Mentions of medications, devices, or procedures are informational and not endorsements. Full medical disclaimer.

†Some listed indications involve investigational/off-label use. Learn more.