Final answer:
Patients with a previous myocardial infarction are most likely to experience a perioperative myocardial infarction within the first few days after surgery. Several factors contribute to this risk, including underlying cardiovascular disease, the type of surgery, the patient's overall health, and the presence of other risk factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
A perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) refers to a heart attack that occurs during or after surgery. Patients with a previous myocardial infarction are most likely to experience a perioperative MI during the first 48-72 hours after surgery. The risk of perioperative MI is influenced by several factors including the extent of underlying cardiovascular disease, the type and duration of surgery, the patient's overall health status, and the presence of other risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol.