Preface

The purpose of this work is to provide a quick update for practitioners on the major topics in Anesthesia. Medicine is a rapidly changing field. In this series:

VOLUME 1 deals with specific anesthetic issues such as regional anesthesia.

Recent Advances in Anesthesiology Vol 1: ANESTHESIA: Essential Clinical Updates for Practitioners – Regional, Ultrasound, Coagulation, Obstetrics and Pediatrics

VOLUME 2 deals with major systems.

Recent Advances in Anesthesiology Vol 2: ANESTHESIA: A Topical Update – Thoracic, Cardiac, Neuro, ICU and Interesting Cases

Despite one’s best effort and the efforts of various professional societies, it is often difficult to keep abreast in all aspects of anesthesia. Over time, every practitioner settles into a daily practice and keeps current in that area. However, the nature of modern anesthetic practice requires flexibility to fill various staffing needs. This often necessitates practitioners to do cases that they are not always facile with. There are a variety of resources available to acquire the requisite knowledge from detailed tomes to introductory manuals. The goal of this work is to provide practitioners with current updates on key aspects of anesthesia with a quick read of 15-20 minutes per topic so that a practitioner will be able to rapidly refresh their knowledge and skills. The chapters contained herein are written by outstanding specialist clinicians who are excellent teachers at the foremost anesthesia training programs. My deepest gratitude and sincere thanks to the authors who have taken the time and effort to do this onerous work, and apologizes for the inordinate delays incumbent in the publication process.

My sincere gratitude to the following individuals for their guidance and direction over the years. Dr. Eugenie Heitmiller: Genie is the epitome of excellence and positivity. As a young resident; I was fortunate to have had the opportunity and privilege of working with Genie. Dr. James Schauble who taught me to intubate and do anesthesia. Dr. William Merritt – who always took the time to teach and ensure that I was fed and watered no matter how horrid the day. Dr. Frederick Sieber: Fritz is my boss and friend. Special thanks to Warren Zapol M.D., Chairman Emeritus the Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School, and Edward Miller Jr. M.D., Emeritus Dean and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, for their kindness and for hiring me.