18 – Effects on Fluid Balance
Abstract The anaesthetist has the option to perform fluid therapy by adhering to strict protocols and rules-of-thumb. However, gaining a better understanding of how to guide this therapy adds interest…
15 – Effects of Anaesthesia on Thermoregulation
Abstract The ability of the human body to maintain normothermia via physiological reactions or behavioural changes to vastly different climatic circumstances is an evolutionarily well preserved mechanism. It is a…
20 – Epilogue: Artificial Intelligence Methods
Abstract With the advances in computational technology, artificial intelligence (AI) systems have been growing exponentially and promise to become tools that are able to overcome some of the most difficult…
19 – Ventilation during General Anaesthesia
Abstract Even though practices do differ geographically, general anaesthesia often involves some mode of mechanical ventilation different from normal spontaneous ventilation. This chapter will focus on the differences between these…
17 – Effects on Liver Function
Abstract Liver surgery can be remarkably safe: a zero mortality rate has been achieved with liver resections when patients are properly selected and with meticulous perioperative care [1]. In order…
14 – Cardiac and Haemodynamic Function
Abstract In Europe, approximately 30% of surgeries are performed in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities and up to 42% of intraoperative complications are cardiac related [4]. Often, the anaesthesiologist needs to…
16 – Effects of Perioperative Management on Kidney Function
Abstract Normal kidney function is essential to maintain whole body homeostasis. An acute decline in kidney function, ‘acute kidney injury’ (AKI), is in and by itself a major cause of…
10 – Respiratory Depression
Abstract Respiratory depression is a common and unwanted side-effect of anaesthetics, sedatives and analgesics. It has been known since the end of the 18th century that anaesthesia has pronounced effects…
11 – Immobility
Abstract Surgical anaesthesia usually requires hypnosis, antinociception (ensuring blood pressure and heart rate control) and immobility with varying degrees of muscle relaxation. However, the relative contribution of these three components…
13 – Targeted and Individualized Perioperative Medicine for Cognitive Dysfunction
Abstract The ageing population in Western countries combined with advances in anaesthetic management and surgical techniques results in a growing number of frail patients presenting for surgery in the last…
