Anest. intenziv. Med. 2025;36(5):336-341 | DOI: 10.36290/aim.2025.057

Year 2025 in review - Cardiac anaesthesia and postoperative careReview Article

Michálek P.^{1, 2}, Říha H.³, Šoltés J.¹, Kunstýř J.¹

¹ Klinika anesteziologie, resuscitace a intenzivní medicíny, 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy Praha a Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice v Praze

² Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lodzi, Polsko

³ Klinika anesteziologie a resuscitace, 1. lékařská fakulta Univerzity Karlovy a Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny v Praze

This article summarizes newly published findings in the field of anesthesia and perioperative care for procedures on the heart and thoracic aorta. Special attention is paid to new global and European guidelines for procedures using cardiopulmonary bypass in adults and for open heart valve surgeries. Furthermore, advances in the use of regional anesthesia techniques of the chest wall for perioperative and postoperative pain management are discussed, including the use of ultrasound navigation and a description of the effectiveness of continuous techniques. As is customary, new findings in the issues of heart transplantation and postoperative care in cardiac surgery are presented. A separate section is devoted to indications and technical innovations in the implementation of mechanical supports for cardiac function, including an analysis of medium-term and long-term results. The final part of the review article presents the most interesting varia in the field.

Keywords: cardiac anesthesia, guidelines, chest wall blocks, heart transplantation, mechanical heart support.

Received: November 15, 2025; Revised: November 15, 2025; Accepted: December 3, 2025; Published: December 22, 2025  Show citation