Effect of Volatile Agents on Myocardial Function and Coronary Blood Flow: Normal and Compromised Myocardium

Cardiovascular complications of anaesthesia and surgery remain fairly common in patients with coronary artery disease despite the availability of better anaesthetic agents, more sophisticated monitoring and the increasing use of high dependency and intensive care units. In patients with significant coronary artery disease, the incidence of cardiovascular complications of anaesthesia is of the order of 8% [1]. Amongst the complications, myocardial infarction, prolonged ischaemia and life-threatening arrhythmias are the most frequently noted.