Advances in anesthesia for cardiac surgery: an overview for the 1990s

Anesthetic care for patients undergoing cardiac surgery has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. Examples of such change include same-day admissions, "fast-track" protocols, selective use of pulmonary artery catheters, transesophageal echocardiography, and the introduction of new drugs such as phosphodiesterase inhibitors and antifibrinolytic agents. Under pressure from our peers and those funding health care, we are making major efforts to reduce costs and the length of hospitalization while maintaining high quality of care.