[Anesthesia in patients with concomitant cardiovascular diseases].

Hypertension and coronary heart disease occupy a decisive position among the cardiovascular concomitant diseases. The article presents the pathophysiological interlinks between these two diseased conditions. It is evident that the left ventricle is in danger of being exposed to ischaemia, which must be considered a major risk factor in anaesthesia and surgery. Pretreatment with beta-blockers and digitalis is discussed. To the present day, no generally valid recommendation can be given for a definite method of anaesthesia. It is of decisive importance to protect the patient against sympathetic stimulation by providing for satisfactory analgesia and sedation. The therapeutical concept in case of undesirable intraoperative states of hypertension is explained.