40 patients with, or at risk for, coronary artery disease and undergoing non-cardiac surgery were randomized to receive either a xenon-opioid anaesthetic or propofol-opioid anaesthetic. The purpose of this study was to compare these two interventions with respect to the preservation of left ventricular function, as well as intraoperative mean arterial pressure. Results indicated that xenon yielded significantly better results with respect to left ventricular performance, mean arterial pressure and heart rate when compared to propofol anaesthesia. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, however, was significantly increased with xenon.