In order to reduce the risk of perioperative cardiac morbidity, effective strategies must be developed from information derived from baseline outcomes. This monograph presents a broad, multidisciplinary overview of several important facets of outcome measurement in cardiovascular medicine contributed by experts in the fields of anesthesiology, cardiology, internal medicine, and surgery. The authors of this text offer an array of perspectives based on current knowledge available, and examine methods to obtain and apply outcome data to clinical decision making.