Jan van der Linden
Professor of Thoracic Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery since 2006.
Photo: Stefan Zimmerman
Heart surgery is mainly carried out on elderly, seriously ill patients. Anaesthesia is a crucial part of the procedures. It not only removes pain, but it also protects against complications such as large haemorrhages, stroke and infarcts, and the increased risk of infection associated with surgery.
Another important function is to preserve the various organ functions and to try to reduce the stress that an operation always places on the body.
