AANA journal
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Eisenmenger syndrome is an insidious disease entity. This disease is characterized by an unrepaired congenital heart defect and left-to-right cardiac shunting. After many years of increased blood flow through the pulmonary system as a result of the shunting, damage to the pulmonary vessels occurs, culminating in severe pulmonary hypertension. ⋯ Because of the great strides in medical care, more patients with Eisenmenger syndrome require anesthesia. Maintaining the patient's systemic vascular resistance at the preoperative level is of paramount importance. Choosing the best anesthesia technique is difficult, at best.