CArdiovaSCulAr outcomes after major abDominal surgEry: study protocol for a multicentre, observational, prospective, international audit of postoperative cardiac complications after major abdominal surgery

Editor—Postoperative cardiovascular complications range in severity from asymptomatic troponin rise to life-threatening complications, such as myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and cardiac arrest.1 However, reported incidences of postoperative cardiovascular complications vary across studies because of the heterogenicity in definitions used.2,3 Therefore, estimating the burden of postoperative cardiovascular complications on healthcare is difficult. Recently, the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine: Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC) initiative developed consensus definitions for postoperative cardiovascular complications to help standardise outcome assessment in perioperative interventions.