History and Pioneers of Cardiac Anesthesia in Italy

The first use of extracorporeal circulation in Italy occurred in 1951 in Turin. In the 1960s only 12 heart surgery centers were using extracorporeal circulation to treat patients, and health professionals had to complete their training abroad. During the last 50 years, Italian cardiac anesthesia has become a branch of major importance, and it has experienced a constantly growing number of active centers and professionals. Today, about 50,000 cardiac surgeries are performed every year in approximately 100 centers. Many results have been achieved during this period, thanks to the contribution of several pioneers. In this article, the history of Italian cardiac anesthesia and the role of Italian anesthesiologists in the development of this subspecialty in Italy and Europe are reviewed.