Year in Review 2025: Noteworthy Literature in Cardiac Anesthesiology

Cardiac anesthesiology continues to evolve as new evidence reshapes practice across multiple domains of patient care. The pace and volume of publication make it increasingly difficult for clinicians to identify studies that are most likely to change day-to-day practice. We performed a structured search of major bibliographic databases and targeted high-impact journals to identify significant cardiac anesthesia research published in 2025. Of 639 records identified, 24 publications were selected by three reviewers based on methodological rigor, clinical relevance, and anticipated impact on perioperative management. The included literature clustered into six themes: prevention of acute kidney injury, blood conservation and coagulation management, multimodal analgesia and opioid-sparing strategies, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols with emphasis on ventilation strategies and delirium prevention, point-of-care ultrasound applications, and workforce sustainability. Together, these studies highlight a continued shift from reactive rescue to proactive optimization-before, during, and after cardiac surgery. This review summarizes the most practice-informing cardiac anesthesiology publications from 2025 to support evidence-based decision-making at the bedside.