Role of anaesthetic choice in improving outcome after cardiac surgery
Article Category: Original Paper
Published Online: Dec 31, 2020
Page range: 37 - 42
Received: May 26, 2020
Accepted: Aug 07, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjaic-2020-0017
Keywords
© 2020 Mihai Stefan, Daniela Filipescu. published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Clinical background
Volatile anaesthetics (VAs) have been shown to protect cardiomyocytes against ischaemia and reperfusion injury in cardiac surgery.
Clinical problems
VAs have been shown in multiple trials and meta-analyses to be associated with better outcomes when compared to intravenous anaesthesia in cardiac surgery. However, recent data from a large randomised controlled trial do not confirm the superiority of VA as compared to total intravenous anaesthesia in this population.
Review objectives
This mini review presents the VA cardioprotective effects, their clinical use in cardiac surgery and the most recent evidence that compares VA to intravenous anaesthesia for reducing perioperative morbidity. At present, there is no clear superiority of VA over intravenous anaesthesia in improving the outcome after cardiac surgery.