Choice of anesthetics

The choice of anesthetics for vascular surgical patients is not only determined by the kind and extent of the surgical procedure but also by patient comorbidities. Frequently, patients have a history of hypertension, peripheral vascular and coronary artery disease,cerebrovascular disease, and renal impairment. The goal of the chosen anesthetic technique is to protect organ function, mainly of the brain and the heart. In some instances regional anesthesia might be preferred, but no difference in outcome between the two techniques has been shown conclusively. Vascular emergencies are particularly challenging for the anesthesiologist, but in recent years the development of stent graft insertion has improved the short-term outcome in many of these procedures.