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Cardiovascular problems in anaesthesia
Cardiovascular problems in anaesthesia
P. HuRon
One of the most important roles of the anaesthetist in modern clinical practice is the management of co-existing disease in the peri-operative period. Although this management only rarely includes de novo diagnosis it is important for risk assessment, pre-operative preparation, choice of anaesthetic drugs and technique, pain therapy and other aspects of post-operative care. This issue of Current Anaesthesia and Critical Care considers some of the peri-operative aspects of cardiovascular disease, the commonest problem with which we have to deal in the developed world. The articles are written by a mixture of anaesthetists, cardiologists and surgeons so that an informed spectrum of opinion is obtained. The first four papers concentrate on pre- and post-operative care and the management of rhythm disturbances. It is interesting when reading these to note that although information has accumulated in the literature there are still many basic questions left unanswered. From this it follows that in addition to private study, clinical experience of such problems is still a vital part of training.
The last article in the mini-symposium describes the management of thoracic aorta disease. This is a topic which is very rarely considered except in specialist texts and is included, at least in part, because of the lack of basic information on the condition in many textbooks. Although the inter-operative management of the condition is confined to specialist centres, its incidence of initial presentation to district general hospitals is increasing. This may be because the more ready availability of non-invasive investigations (e.g. computerised axial tomography), has improved diagnosis. This paper is therefore designed to describe the presentation and early intensive management of this condition as well as outlining the principles of inter-operative care. Also included in this issue of the journal, but not as part of the mini-symposium, are two related articles: one on pacemakers, (a subject in which there have been considerable technical advances over the past few years), and another on the history of cardiac anaesthesia. The latter emphasises the difficulties and achievement of the past which today are so easy to forget.
Professor P Hutton, University Department of Anaesthesia, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham B 15 2TM. Current Anaesthesia and Critical Care
© PearsonProfessionalLtd 1995
(1995)6, 135
135
P. HuRon
One of the most important roles of the anaesthetist in modern clinical practice is the management of co-existing disease in the peri-operative period. Although this management only rarely includes de novo diagnosis it is important for risk assessment, pre-operative preparation, choice of anaesthetic drugs and technique, pain therapy and other aspects of post-operative care. This issue of Current Anaesthesia and Critical Care considers some of the peri-operative aspects of cardiovascular disease, the commonest problem with which we have to deal in the developed world. The articles are written by a mixture of anaesthetists, cardiologists and surgeons so that an informed spectrum of opinion is obtained. The first four papers concentrate on pre- and post-operative care and the management of rhythm disturbances. It is interesting when reading these to note that although information has accumulated in the literature there are still many basic questions left unanswered. From this it follows that in addition to private study, clinical experience of such problems is still a vital part of training.
The last article in the mini-symposium describes the management of thoracic aorta disease. This is a topic which is very rarely considered except in specialist texts and is included, at least in part, because of the lack of basic information on the condition in many textbooks. Although the inter-operative management of the condition is confined to specialist centres, its incidence of initial presentation to district general hospitals is increasing. This may be because the more ready availability of non-invasive investigations (e.g. computerised axial tomography), has improved diagnosis. This paper is therefore designed to describe the presentation and early intensive management of this condition as well as outlining the principles of inter-operative care. Also included in this issue of the journal, but not as part of the mini-symposium, are two related articles: one on pacemakers, (a subject in which there have been considerable technical advances over the past few years), and another on the history of cardiac anaesthesia. The latter emphasises the difficulties and achievement of the past which today are so easy to forget.
Professor P Hutton, University Department of Anaesthesia, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham B 15 2TM. Current Anaesthesia and Critical Care
© PearsonProfessionalLtd 1995
(1995)6, 135
135