The concept of anaesthetic-induced cardioprotection: clinical relevance

Experimental evidence has clearly demonstrated that volatile anaesthetic agents have direct protective properties against reversible and irreversible ischaemic myocardial damage. These properties have been related to a direct preconditioning effect but also to an effect on the extent of reperfusion injury. The implementation of these properties during clinical anaesthesia can provide an additional tool in the treatment and/or prevention of ischaemic cardiac dysfunction in the perioperative period. In clinical practice, these effects should be associated with improved cardiac function, ultimately resulting in a better outcome in patients with coronary artery disease. This potential application of anaesthetic agents has only recently been explored, and its applicability in clinical practice is the subject of ongoing research. This review summarizes the current knowledge on this subject.