PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cardiovascular diseases are counted among the most prevalent morbidities in western nations and they still are the leading cause of death in these countries. An increasingly aging population will confront all physicians with a growing number of patients having cardiovascular dysfunction. Anesthesiologists need to be familiar with upcoming new cardiologic procedures to provide hemodynamic stability during these procedures. RECENT FINDINGS: Cardiovascular diseases are often combined with severe comorbidities such as renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonal hypertension and cerebrovascular damage. So anesthesia in this cohort requires experience, especially when during direct manipulation of the cardiac system such as in cardiologic procedures. Additionally, a new therapeutic option has been developed for valvular dysfunction recently, which involves the anesthesiologist in a new treatment of a high-risk population. SUMMARY: This review will focus on anesthesiological management of patients undergoing implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators, coronary interventions and interventions in the rapidly growing field of percutaneous treatment of mitral and aortic valve failure.
