Dear Colleague,

We would like to invite you to participate in this European Survey about the use of inhalational anaesthesia during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Please find the survey at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OMFtcSaGU3b_sjVACQhtPKA6wYS0InqwBSZS8RiaAHA

The maintenance of anesthesia during the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) phase of cardiac surgery can be achieved by administering a halogenated anesthetic through the CPB gas exchanger. It is a well-known alternative to total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), with possible beneficial effects in terms of myocardial protection.

Although nowadays considered not superior to TIVA in terms of major morbidity and mortality, nonetheless it has many potentials but unproven advantages like ease of administration, low incidence of awareness, smooth transition from and to mechanical ventilation in terms of depth of anesthesia and reduced cost.

The diffusion of inhalational anesthesia during CPB in European cardiac surgery centers is unknown, as are unknown the details of the technology used to deliver it, the incidence of awareness associated with it, the monitoring and strategies used to manage it, the drugs used and its cost.

The aim of this survey is to gather data on the use of inhalational anesthesia during CPB across European cardiac surgery centers.

Thank you for considering participation.

With best regards,

Dr Paolo Grassi
Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina Trieste, Italy
(on behalf of the survey team)