Cor Vasa 2011, 53(12):683-692 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2011.171

Cardioprotective effects of inhalational and intravenous anesthetics

Hynek Říha^1,2,*, Tomáš Kotulák¹, Aleš Březina¹, Ladislav Hess³, Bohuslav Ošťádal^4,2, Jan Pirk^5,2

¹ Klinika anesteziologie a resuscitace, Kardiocentrum IKEM, Praha

² Centrum výzkumu chorob srdce a cév, Praha

³ Centrum experimentální medicíny, IKEM, Praha

⁴ Fyziologický ústav, AV ČR, Praha

⁵ Klinika kardiovaskulární chirurgie, Kardiocentrum IKEM, Praha, Česká republika

Surgical procedures are invariably accompanied by the use of inhalational and intravenous anesthetics. Anesthetics have direct cardioprotective effects by positive influence on the myocardial oxygen supply/demand ratio, and indirect by the influence on cardiomyocyte function at the level of cell membranes, ion channels and regulatory enzymes. Anesthetics also interact with subcellular mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning and postconditioning. The results of clinical studies confirmed the fact that anesthetics influence also postoperative course. Detailed knowledge of cardioprotective effects of anesthetics, together with clarification of effectiveness of particular anesthesia protocols, should lead to targeted use of anesthetics resulting in decreased frequency of cardiovascular complications after surgical procedures.

Keywords: Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury; Inhalational anesthetics; Intravenous anesthetics; Preconditioning; Postconditioning

Published: December 1, 2011  Show citation