Cardiac Anesthesia During Heart Surgery: What Should Patients Know?

Patients needing open heart surgery for cardiac conditions including heart valve disease, coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysms and atrial fibrillation often have questions about the general anesthesia used during the operation. Some patient questions include, “What kind of cardiac anesthesia is used during heart surgery?", "How long does the anesthesia work?", and "How long do the drugs stay in my body?” (Video posted on August 6, 2025)