1. What is the Revised Cardiac Risk Index?

The Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) is a clinical prediction tool used to estimate the risk of major cardiac complications in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. It assesses six key risk factors to calculate a risk score.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator sums the number of present risk factors:

Risk Factors:

• High-risk surgery
• Ischemic heart disease
• Congestive heart failure
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Diabetes requiring insulin therapy
• Renal insufficiency

3. Importance of RCRI Calculation

Details: The RCRI helps clinicians stratify surgical patients by cardiac risk, guide preoperative evaluation, and inform decisions about perioperative management and monitoring.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Select all applicable risk factors present in the patient. The calculator will automatically sum the points to provide the RCRI score.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What do the different RCRI scores mean?
A: Score 0: Low risk (0.4% major cardiac complications), 1: Intermediate risk (0.9%), 2: High risk (6.6%), ≥3: Very high risk (11.0%).

Q2: When should RCRI be used?
A: For all adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery to assess perioperative cardiac risk.

Q3: Are there limitations to RCRI?
A: RCRI may underestimate risk in certain populations and doesn't include all potential risk factors. Clinical judgment should always be used.

Q4: How does RCRI compare to other risk indices?
A: RCRI is widely validated and commonly used, but newer indices like NSQIP may provide additional predictive value in some settings.

Q5: Should RCRI guide preoperative testing?
A: Yes, higher RCRI scores may indicate need for more extensive cardiac evaluation before surgery.