Anesthesia Considerations in Global Cardiac Surgery Capacity Development in Emerging Countries

Abstract

Cardiac surgery is a complex specialty that requires significant investment in medical personnel, medical equipment, and medical facilities along with support from private, international and governmental agencies for successful outcomes. Multiple medical subspecialties are involved, including cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and perfusionists. Cardiac anesthesiologists are involved in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative management of cardiac surgical patients. Appropriate preoperative management ensures optimization of cardiac surgical patients prior to surgery and improves patient outcomes and satisfaction. Intraoperative management during cardiac surgical procedures involves a very high level of communication and coordination amongst medical personnel taking care of the patient in the operating room. The anesthesiologist is also involved in postoperative pain control and hemodynamic management. Experienced cardiac anesthesiologists play a very significant role in global cardiac surgery development. Apart from perioperative risk stratification and management, they are also involved in training local medical personnel and ensuring that safe clinical standards are adhered to as cardiac surgery capacity increases.KeywordsAnesthesiaCardiac surgeryPreoperative managementIntraoperative managementPostoperative managementMonitoringEchocardiographyCardiopulmonary bypass