Anesthesia Key

Introduction A hospital and a freestanding ambulatory surgery center (ASC) were once considered the only locations in which to perform a safe anesthetic and surgical procedure. However, since the latter…

Introduction Propofol is a sedative–hypnotic that was commercially introduced into U.S. anesthetic practice in 1989. Released under the trade name of Diprivan, it rapidly gained acceptance in the anesthesia community…

Introduction Aspiration is a recognized risk of anesthesia. Although a relatively rare complication of anesthesia, aspiration contributes to perioperative morbidity and mortality. It can occur whenever a patient is unable…

Introduction Opioid-based anesthesia emerged as a safe and effective way to maintain hemodynamic stability in patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the early 1970s. This traditional anesthetic technique used large doses…

Introduction Intensive (critical) care units (ICUs) first appeared in the 1950s as specialized wards to care for patients with acute respiratory failure. Subsequent technical and pharmacologic advances led to the…

Introduction In 1955 Bedford published an article in The Lancet suggesting that patients older than 50 years should exercise discretion when choosing to undergo elective surgery because they are at…

Introduction Perioperative beta-blockade (PBB) has been advocated for the reduction of cardiac risk for noncardiac surgery. The initial interest was based on nearly 50 years of research in the cardiology…

Introduction Malignant hyperthermia crisis (MHC) is a potentially lethal inherited syndrome triggered by exposure to anesthetic agents. The anesthesia community is best prepared to deal with MHC and patients who…

Introduction The obesity epidemic affects a very significant proportion of the adult population in the United States and throughout developed nations. The body mass index (BMI) is the most widely…