Herein is a retrospective study of 220 cases of open heart surgery at Yeungnam University Hospital from April, 1984 to March, 1987 anti the anesthetic methods employed. Among the 226 caaes, there were 169 cases of congenital acyanotic disease, 21 cases of congenital cyanotic disease and 36 cases were acquired heart disease. One hundred fourteen cases were male and 112 were female. The mean age of patients with congenital heart disease was 9.2±7.9 gears and it was 34.2±13.8 years in acquired heart disease. The primarily utilized premedicants were morphine, hydroxyzine and glycopyrrolate. Induction agents included thiopental in the congenital acyanotic group, ketamine in the congenital cyanotic group and morphine and Valium in the acquired heart disease group. Mainten- ance agents were mainly halothane+N2O in the congenital acyanotic group, ketamine in the congenital cyanotic group and morphine with or without inhalation agents in the acquired heart disease group. Muscle relaxants such as succinylcholine and pancuroniurn were used in the early days of open heart surgery, but recently vecurnnium has been utilized for intubation and maintenance of muscle relaxation. The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross clamp, surgery and anesthesia were longer in the order of congenital acyanotic, congenital cyanotic and acquired heart disease group. Overall the mortality rate was 3.1%, and the main cause of death was respiratory failure (42.9%) .