Dyke CM, et al. - Although hypertension increases the risk of surgery, researchers evaluated the contribution of chronic outpatient blood pressure variability (BPV) to surgical risk. They assumed that long-term, visit-to-visit BPV prior to surgery is a previously unrecognized risk factor for adverse outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. The variability of blood pressure correlates with altered arterial wall stiffness and atherosclerotic plaque volume and was associated with subsequent hospitalization, stroke, renal failure and death. Patients undergoing CABG procedures have vascular compliance and endothelial function abnormalities that predispose them to adverse cardiovascular outcomes.