Interactions of Cardiovascular Drugs with Inhalational Anaesthetics

The incidence of arterial hypertension and of coronary heart disease is very high. Many patients presenting for elective or emergency surgery and requiring anaesthesia are therefore treated with antihypertensive or anti-anginal medication. The possibility of interactions between cardiovascular drugs and inhalational anaesthetics must, therefore, be envisaged. Three main categories of drugs will be discussed in this review. Firstly, the antihypertensive agents; secondly, the adrenergic beta-receptor antagonists; and, thirdly, the more recently introduced calcium influx blockers. Interactions with other cardiovascular drugs, such as digitalis and anti-arrhythmic agents, will not be discussed.