Cardiac Anesthesia

While health care debate has been the rage, real changes in health care are taking place at the patient level, which are affected by the changing demographics of the baby boomer generation, the evolution of surgical and anesthetic techniques, and refinements in quality and appropriateness, going beyond even complicated economic considerations. Over the past 20 years, I have had the privilege to provide anesthesia for cardiovascular surgical patients. Since that time, the landscape has changed considerably. Advances in the field have been rapid, exciting, and remarkable. Development and innovations in technology in the cardiovascular field have changed the practice of cardiovascular surgery and anesthesia. Patient comorbidity, coupled with procedural complexity, has underscored the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork and collaboration to ensure successful outcomes. There is more emphasis on quality, patient safety, and patient experience; these are now measurable outcomes used to rank hospitals and, in some cases, are tied to reimbursement. There are more demands to not only understand and be facile with the new technology but also be more involved in extending care outside the operating theater. Our specialty will continue to place greater emphasis on team dynamics and interdisciplinary care.
Source: Anesthesiology Clinics - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Source Type: research