Elderly patients undergoing surgery for proximal hip fracture have a high risk of morbidity and mortality (M&M) postoperatively. Several studies including some from the investigators department have shown that there is a high risk of cardiovascular complications in this group of patients and 3-month mortality is 15-20%. One of the causes of this high M&M is the high incidence of cardiac failure associated with an increased NT-proBNP in this group of patients. The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether optimization of preoperative cardiac function can reduce cardiac M&M postoperatively. Following verbal consent, patients with an increased NT-proBNP would be randomized to goal-directed preoperative optimization or standard management according to current hospital routines. Following optimization, the patients would be transferred to the operating rooms and subsequent management including perioperative patient management would be left to the discretion of a specialist anesthesiologist who is directly involved in patient care. Postoperatively, Troponin T and NT-proBNP would be measured in all patients according to the study protocol. In addition, major adverse cardiac events would be documented and follow-up would be done by after 30 days and 3 months postoperatively.

This is a prospective, open, randomized, multi-center study. Primary screening of patients would take place in the Emergency room or Orthopedic ward according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria (see below). All patients (>= 65 yr) with a proximal hip fracture would be required to provide either written or verbal informed consent prior to being included in the study. Subsequently, NT-proBNP would be taken and if this is above the recommended levels suggesting cardiac failure (> 900 ng/l in patients 65-75 yrs old, and >1800 ng/l in patients > 75 yrs), the patients may be included into the study. Included patients would then be randomized into two groups: Standard management according to existing hospital routines and Optimized Management Patients with a normal NT-proBNP would be listed but would not be included in the study. Patients with proximal femur fracture who are > 65 yrs old and have an increased NT-proBNP and who have given informed consent would be randomized to either Standard Management or Optimized Management. The former group would be managed according to the hospital routines and cared for by a Specialist Anaesthesiologist and Orthopaedic surgeon preoperatively.

Group O= Optimization Patients who are randomized to the Optimization group would be transferred to a Holding Area, which is close to the Operating Rooms 4-6 hours prior to planned surgery. The main aim of optimization is to achieve a normal oxygen delivery to the tissues preoperatively i.e. DO2: 500-600ml/min/m2. Optimized management means that patients first have an Echocardiography to evaluate myocardial function. Subsequently, an arterial line is inserted and optimization achieved by using this arterial line connected to a Flo-track system (Vigileo, Edwards). The system uses pulse wave analysis to assess several parameters including: stroke volume index (SVI), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), as well as oxygen delivery (DO2).The main aim of goal-directed therapy is to achieve a normal oxygen delivery to the tissues i.e. DO2 500-600ml/min/m2.• Hb would be optimized to > 90 g/l

• SaO2 > 96%
• Stroke volume index (SVI) > 30
• Heart rate should ideally be < 80

Stroke volume index (SVI) > 30 is achieved by repeated volume substitution in the form of 100-200 ml colloid. If, despite bolus doses of colloids, the SVI is < 30, one would have to use ionotropic drugs e.g. dobutamine or levosimendan, in order to achieve this goa

The study would be done in three hospitals: University Hospital, Linköping, University Hospital, Örebro and Jönköping Hospital. A total of 200 patients (100 in each group) would be included. It is expected that the study would be ongoing during a period of two years.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients > 65 yrs
2. Proximal femur fracture where the patient is planned to be operated during the day (Monday-Friday).
3. NT-proBNP > 900 ng/l in patients 65-75 yrs old, and >1800 ng/l in patients > 75 yrs.
4. Informed consent provided by the patient.

All of the above criteria must be fulfilled before the patient can be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Informed consent cannot be provided
2. Mental or verbal difficulty in understanding or expressing willingness to participate in the study.
3. Instable angina pectoris.
4. Ongoing myocardial infarct or ischemia
5. Circulatory shock
6. Decompensated cardiac failure or pulmonary oedema
7. Pathologic femur fracture
8. Chronic haemodialysis
9. Cardiac valve incompetence that has haemodynamic consequences

Any one of the above is a criterion for exclusion.