Abstract
Anesthesiological and postoperative care for procedures on the heart and aorta differs in certain aspects from the perioperative care of other surgical disciplines. This review of published meta-analyses and original studies in cardiac surgical perioperative care presents and comments on new guidelines, the implementation of modern trends in cardiac surgery and their importance for anesthesiologists, as well as new findings leading to the reduction of perioperative and postoperative complications.
Furthermore, the most important drug studies in the field are presented, including the development of new substances. A separate section is designated for heart failure, mechanical circulatory support devices, and the issue of heart transplantation.
The last part of the review concerns monitoring techniques and new devices used during perioperative care.