Anesthesiology Journal's podcast

Creator: James P. Rathmell, M.D., M.B.A. April 2026, Volume 144, Issue 4 Overview of April issue original studies.

Moderator: James P. Rathmell, M.D. Participants: James O'Carroll, M.B.B.S., and Ruth Landau, M.D. Articles Discussed: Incidence of Pain during Cesarean Delivery with Neuraxial Anesthesia: an International, Prospective Cohort Study Pain during Cesarean Delivery with Neuraxial Anesthesia: Have we Made any Progress? Transcript

Duminda N. Wijeysundera, a professor in anesthesiology and health policy, critiques subjective preop fitness checks. Arman Valadkhani, an anesthesiologist and researcher, reports a large prospective study using granular METs. They discuss limitations of self-report, benefits of structured MET questionnaires, study design and statistics, and practical steps to improve preoperative functional assessment.

Creator: James P. Rathmell, M.D., M.B.A. March 2026, Volume 144, Issue 3 Overview of March issue original studies. Transcript

Moderator: BobbieJean Sweitzer, M.D. Participants: Alparslan Turan, M.D. and Ki Jinn Chin, M.B.B.S., M.Med. Articles Discussed: Liposomal Bupivacaine, Plain Bupivacaine, and Saline for Transversus Abdominis Plane Blocks: The CLEVELAND Randomized Trial Does Liposomal Bupivacaine Deliver in TAP Blocks (Does any Local Anesthetic?)? It's Complicated… Transcript

Moderator: James P. Rathmell, M.D. Participants: Mark Bicket, M.D., Ph.D. and Lynn Kohan, M.D. Articles Discussed: Trends in Use of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder among Commercially Insured U.S. Surgical Patients, 2016-2022 Rising Treatment for Substance Use Disorder Presents New Challenges for Anesthesiologists as Perioperative Medicine Specialists Transcript

Creator: James P. Rathmell, M.D. February 2026, Volume 144, Issue 2 Overview of February issue original studies. Transcript

Moderator: BobbieJean Sweitzer, M.D. Participants: Mark D. Neuman, M.D., M.Sc. Articles Discussed: Neonatal Outcomes with Regional versus General Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Transcript

Join Elliott Bennett-Guerrero, a seasoned anesthesiology professor and clinical researcher, alongside Juan P. Cata, an expert in perioperative oncology. They delve into the GA CARES trial, revealing intriguing insights about anesthesia types and their impact on cancer surgery outcomes. Key discussions include the surprising lack of overall survival benefit with propofol, the comparison of volatile agents, and the critical questions remaining in perioperative oncology. Their analysis combines rigorous research with clinical implications, promising to reshape future practices.

In this discussion, the impact of anesthetics on cancer surgery survival is scrutinized, revealing surprising findings from the GA CARES trial. The use of esketamine emerges as a game-changer in reducing postoperative delirium for hip and knee surgeries. A digital thermometer links preoperative distress to worse recovery outcomes, emphasizing emotional well-being. Concerns arise over the accuracy of NIRS for children with darker skin tones, highlighting issues of equity. Fascinating insights into the parafacial zone indicate a connection between consciousness and respiration during anesthesia.