More than 1 million people die each year after having major non-cardiac surgery and current pre-operative risk prediction models have limitations. A study published in the June 6th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association has found a link between post-operative Troponin T levels in the three days following surgery and 30-day survival rates. The researchers state that this simple prognostic biomarker test may have clinical utility by identifying patients who are at increased risk of death in hopes of discovering potential interventions.
