Regional anaesthesia in patients at coronary risk for noncardiac and cardiac surgery.

This review presents a brief overview about the role of regional anaesthesia in patients at risk for myocardial ischemia and/or infarction after cardiac and noncardiac surgical procedures. It includes pathophysiological insights in the problems of plaque rupture and the possible interactions by the use of regional anaesthesia. Special emphasis is put on the subject of thoracic epidural anaesthesia with newer studies showing improvement in relief of angina and improvement of global systolic and diastolic function in patients with coronary artery disease.