Intravenous Anesthesia for the Patient with Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Patients with heart failure have a diminished cardiac reserve capacity that may be further compromised by anesthesia. In addition to depression of sympathetic activity, most anaesthetics interfere with cardiovascular performance, either by a direct myocardial depression or by modifying cardiovascular control mechanisms. Etomidate causes the least cardiovascular depression. It is popular for induction of anesthesia in cardiac-compromised...