Anesthetic implications of new surgical approaches to myocardial revascularization

New surgical techniques for bypassing coronary artery lesions are being explored with the goals of avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass, minimizing disfiguring scars, and decreasing hospital stay and costs. These forms of cardiac surgery have significant anesthetic implications. Intraoperatively there is an obligatory period of myocardial ischemia, which may lead to significant hemodynamic consequences. Postoperative trends towards early extubation and patient mobilization require anesthetic techniques that facilitate rapid recovery.