Comparison of three anesthetic techniques for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: General anesthesia, combined general and high thoracic epidural anesthesia, or high thoracic epidural anesthesia alone

Conclusion: Based on the authors' data, all anesthetic techniques were equally safe from the clinician's standpoint. However, GA + TEA appeared to be most comprehensive, allowing for revascularization of any coronary artery, providing good hemodynamic stability and reliable postoperative pain relief. Nonetheless, the actual and potential risks of TEA during cardiac surgery should not be underestimated.