Ketamine is an incredibly versatile drug that can act as an anesthetic, analgesic, antidepressant, and psychedelic, depending on the dose and clinical context. It can provide pain relief and clinical sedation but may also produce dissociative and perceptual effects,…

Peripheral nerve blocks are widely used in regional anesthesia to provide postoperative analgesia while reducing opioid consumption and opioid-related side effects. The duration of analgesia with single-shot nerve blocks, however, is…

Fasting is a physiological state characterized by the absence of caloric intake that prompts the body to shift its metabolic and hemodynamic processes to maintain homeostasis. Both short-term fasting, such…

Trends in tobacco use in the US have shifted dramatically over the past half century, thanks, in part, to improved scientific and medical knowledge, policies aimed at reducing cigarette use,…

Endotracheal intubation is a common but often challenging part of anesthetic and critical care, marked by a high risk of hypoxemia. Traditionally, oxygenation during intubation has relied on bag-mask ventilation…

Neuromuscular blockade is an anesthetic technique that allows clinicians to immobilize patients in a controlled way and safely perform precise, complex surgery. Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) such as rocuronium…

Blood pressure measurement is essential to clinical care, especially in surgical and intensive care settings. However, measured values can vary markedly depending on the method used. Differences in device technology,…

Normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride) has traditionally been considered the standard isotonic solution for fluid resuscitation and maintenance. Yet, substantial evidence indicates that large-volume administration of normal saline can produce…

The reversal of neuromuscular blockade during anesthesia ensures that patients regain safe respiratory function and airway protection following surgery. In the United States, anesthesiologists primarily rely on two drugs for…