The IARS is committed to advancing the field of anesthesiology through a number of research and educational initiatives that benefit not only practicing anesthesiologists but also patients of all ages. We strive to provide you with the latest news through several education newsletters as well as the important updates on this page.
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Archived News
Advance Your Career and the Specialty! Now Accepting Applications for 2023 IARS Mentored Research Awards!
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 IARS Mentored Research Awards (IMRA) through April 30, 2023! For more than 100 years, the core mission of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) has been to encourage, stimulate, and support anesthesia-related research projects that will improve patient care and advance the specialty. IARS established its Mentored Research Awards to help create future leaders and prepare applicants to obtain independent research funding. Up to four research projects will be selected in 2023, each with a maximum award of $175,000 payable over two years. IMRA applications may be in any area of investigation (clinical, translational, basic science), but must have ultimate relevance to the broad practice of anesthesiology and its subspecialties.
To learn more and view past successful IMRA research endeavors, visit iars.org/awards/IMRA.
IARS Board Chair Dr. Suresh Receives ASRA’s Prestigious Gaston Labat Award
JANUARY 24, 2023
IARS Board Chair Santhanam Suresh, MD, MBA, FAAP, FASA, has been recognized with the 2023 Gaston Labat Award and lectureship by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA). This annual award honors the pioneering work in regional anesthesia of Gaston P. Labat, the first president of ASRA in 1923.
Nominated by his colleague and 2020 Gaston Labat Awardee, Guy Weinberg, MD, at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Dr. Suresh was honored for his significant contributions to advance the specialty of regional anesthesia. “It’s hard to quantify or even imagine the suffering he has prevented locally and around the world by his years of continuous and determined effort to spread the benefits of regional anesthesia among children having surgery,” Dr. Weinberg extolled.
Dr. Suresh will accept this prestigious award during the 48th Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, April 20-22, 2023, in Hollywood, FL. Read more.
Preoperative Identification of Patient-Dependent Blood Pressure Targets Associated With Low Risk of Intraoperative Hypotension During Noncardiac Surgery
JANUARY 24, 2023
Severe hypotension during anesthesia can stem from multiple causes and can result in significant morbidity. Our current ability to accurately predict which patients harbor risk factors for severe hypotension under general anesthesia is at best an educated intuition. The cover image for this month’s feature article reflects this uncertainty. Specifically, is there a blood pressure threshold under anesthesia that portends subsequent, severe hypotension? Authors in this issue give us a glimpse into the future of predictive modeling for such risks. Artificial intelligence has the capacity to serve as the next best thing to a crystal ball; however, it still remains in its infancy, and time will surely dictate its true potential.
February 2023 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
JANUARY 24, 2023
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the February 2023 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Anesthesia and Developing Brain: What Have We Learned from Recent Studies
JANUARY 24, 2023
In their review, the authors summarize progress in clinical and preclinical studies that provides new approaches and therapeutic targets for protecting the developing brain from anesthesia-induced neurotoxicity (AIN). Clinical studies in children often focus on the effects of single and multiple exposures to anesthesia. Current preclinical studies often look for mechanisms of AIN. Whether observed mechanisms on neurotoxicity in rodents translate to human subjects remains unclear. One alternative research approach is to combine single-cell sequencing technologies to screen for differential gene expression in non-human primates — because they are more genetically similar to humans than rodents–followed by in vivo validation in rodents. Read more.
Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center Accepting Applications for HEAL K12
JANUARY 24, 2023
The Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at the University of Michigan is requesting applications for the HEAL National K12 Clinical Pain Career Development Award (HEAL K12). The HEAL K12 is a mentored career development program designed to provide protected time for clinicians and scientists to focus on training and conducting clinical pain research. Awards provide a minimum of 75% salary support (up to $100,000/year) plus fringe benefits, and $50,000/year in research support costs, for up to 3 years.
Successful applicants will have at least (3) mentors: a primary home-institution mentor, a senior pain research mentor of national stature assigned by the K12 program, and a mentor with lived pain experience (also assigned by the K12 program). Training is split between the scholar’s home-institution and didactic resources available remotely or in-person at the University of Michigan. Annual travel to the 3-day NIH PURPOSE Conference on Pain Education and to the two-day Ann Arbor Summer Pain Short Course is expected. Application deadline is March 1, 2023.
To learn more about the award and how to apply, use the following links:
- https://heal.nih.gov/news/events/k12-clinical-pain-career-development-award
- https://heal-k12.med.umich.edu/
Additional questions about this training opportunity can be sent to [email protected].
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Pediatric Anesthesia Ask the Expert Podcast
JANUARY 24, 2023
View the reposted September 2018 episode with Dr. Adrian T. Bosenberg and OpenAnesthesia® Editor Dr. Faith Ross, who discussed the topic of pediatric regional anesthesia. In the upcoming February 2023 episode, this topic will be revisited by OpenAnesthesia® Associate Editor, Dr. Elisha Peterson, who will interview Dr. Tricia Vecchione on this topic.
Gender Gap: A Qualitative Study of Women and Leadership Acquisition in Anesthesiology
DECEMBER 21, 2022
This month’s cover art is modified from J. Howard Miller’s original 1942 painting, which became symbolic of the empowerment of women during World War II. It is accordingly appropriated to reflect the advance of women physicians in leadership roles in academic medicine and healthcare. In this month’s issue, the journal explores the profile and characteristics of noteworthy women anesthesiologists who have navigated the world of academic medicine to achieve successful leadership roles. The articles contained herein are meant to inspire as much as spotlight the considerable work that lies ahead in achieving gender equality in healthcare leadership.
A&A Social Media
DECEMBER 21, 2022
Drs. Jarna Shah and Emily Sharpe, Anesthesia & Analgesia’s Social Media Editors, have assembled a team of Social Media Ambassadors to help promote articles and related materials published both in the Journal and on the Journal website via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
The list of Social Media Ambassadors can be found on A&A’s Editorial Board page.
January 2023 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
DECEMBER 21, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the January 2023 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Save the Date for the 2023 Annual Meetings in Denver, Colorado!
DECEMBER 21, 2022
Save the date for the IARS, AUA and SOCCA 2023 Annual Meetings, April 13-17, in Denver, CO.
IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
- Preliminary Programs: Now Available!
- Late-Breaking Submission Site: Opens January 2023 and closes 2/3/23!
- Housing Site: Now Open!
- Online Registration: Now Open!
Sign up to receive Annual Meeting News!
More details are available at https://meetings.iars.org.
View Recordings from IARS Virtual Education
DECEMBER 21, 2022
Now available for IARS full members! Explore webinars from 2021 and 2022 and claim CME credits. IARS full members can view the recordings here.
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Fellows Webinar
DECEMBER 21, 2022
Jacqueline M. Galvan, MD, presents “Breakthrough Maternal Pain: Can We Do Better?” in the latest OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar.
Improving Preclinical Development of Novel Interventions to Treat Pain: Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over and Expecting Different Results
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
This month’s featured cover article considers the historical trajectory of clinical pharmacology in the domain of chronic pain management. It is recognized that patients are largely served with the same medication classes developed in a bygone era. Why the stagnation? A variety of mechanisms are highlighted that attempt to answer this question.
New A&A Thematic Issue: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Anesthesiology
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
Anesthesia & Analgesia will publish a new thematic issue, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Anesthesiology,” in the October 2023 issue of the Journal. The issue’s guest editors are Paloma Toledo, MD, MPH, Crystal Wright, MD, and Thomas Vetter, MD, MPH. Learn more about the open call for papers for this issue.
December 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the December 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Save the Date for the 2023 Annual Meetings in Denver, Colorado!
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
Save the date for the IARS, AUA and SOCCA 2023 Annual Meetings, April 13-17, in Denver, CO.
IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
- Preliminary Programs: Now Available!
- Abstract Submission Deadline: December 11, 2022 – Don’t miss your chance to present in Denver!
- Housing Site: Now Open!
- Online Registration Available: December 2022
Sign up to receive Annual Meeting News!
More details are available at https://meetings.iars.org.
Webinar: Perioperative Brain Health – Insights from Young Investigators on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 4:00 pm ET
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
Perioperative neurologic complications are common but poorly understood. Come learn what four early-stage anesthesiologist-investigators are discovering about why patients experience “brain failure” around the time of surgery and what we can do to prevent it. Join young investigators Bradley A. Fritz, MD, MSCI, Mitra Heshmati, MD, PhD, Kathryn R. Rosenblatt, MD, MHS, Michael J. Devinney, Jr., MD, PhD, and S. Kendall Smith, MD, PhD to discuss this important topic!
General Anesthesia in Children and Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Deficits: A Systematic Review
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
Do general anesthetic (GA) agents commonly used in children produce negative neurocognitive outcomes? The authors conduct a comprehensive literature search for studies that describe long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children <18 years with single or multiple exposures to GA. The search yields 72 clinical studies including 58 retrospective studies. Findings in 2/3 (48) of studies show evidence of neurocognitive effects after GA exposure. While most studies in children < 7 years describe adverse neurocognitive effects after GA exposure, not all studies actually report that younger children are at greater risk than older children for GA-induced neurocognitive deficits. Limiting the duration, number, and dose of anesthetic agents is important. Read more.
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Fellows Webinar
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
Andrea J. Trainer, MD, presents “Postpartum Tubal Ligation” in the latest OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar.
OA-SPA Ask the Expert
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
Dr. Elizabeth Hansen and OpenAnesthesia® Editor Dr. Aditee Ambardekar discuss the topic of sustainability in anesthesia.
IARS Chair and Immediate Past Chair Present at Japan Society of Clinical Anesthesia 42nd Annual Conference
NOVEMBER 16, 2022
International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) Chair Dr. Santhanam Suresh, MD, MBA, FASA, FAAP and Immediate Past Chair Christian Werner, MD connected with international leaders in clinical anesthesia during the Japan Society of Clinical Anesthesia (JSCA) 42nd Annual Conference, held November 11-12, at the Kyoto International Conference Center in Kyoto, Japan. Contributing to the lively exchange of ideas and collaboration across countries at the Annual Conference, Drs. Suresh and Werner shared their expertise during the IARS Kosaka Award Commemorative Symposium on November 12. Read more.
The Next New Wave: How Critical Care Might Learn from COVID in Responding to the Next Pandemic
OCTOBER 25, 2022
This month’s cover article contains several perspectives on the critical care anesthesiology response to the COVID pandemic. The focus of the article is not on the response per se, as much has already been written, but rather on what COVID has taught us that might improve our response to the next pandemic. In the article, 6 SOCCA members who each contributed to the COVID response in different ways provide a set of diverse viewpoints on what they learned from their experience. The perspectives range from organizational to innovative and highlight the many different contributions of critical care intensivists to the COVID effort.
November 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
OCTOBER 25, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the November 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Save the Date for the 2023 Annual Meetings in Denver, Colorado!
OCTOBER 25, 2022
Save the date for the IARS, AUA and SOCCA 2023 Annual Meetings, April 13-17, in Denver, CO.
IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
- Abstract Submission Live: September 9, 2022 – Open Now!
- Preliminary Programs: Now Available!
- Abstract Submission Deadline: December 2, 2022
- Housing Site Live: September 2022
- Online Registration Available: December 2022
Sign up to receive Annual Meeting News!
More details are available at https://meetings.iars.org.
Now Available! Watch Annual Meeting Session Videos
OCTOBER 25, 2022
Session recordings from the IARS 2022 Annual Meeting are now available to IARS members. IARS members can also claim CME credit from the 2021 and 2022 Annual Meetings.
Webinar: “Is less Really More for the Brain in the ICU” on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, 4:00 pm ET
OCTOBER 25, 2022
Approximately one-third of ICU survivors will experience significant cognitive impairment, including newly acquired dementias. Functional, psychiatric, and chronic pain symptoms also drive worse quality of life in critical illness survivors. Post-ICU survivorship is now a focus of clinical management and critical care research. Join Christopher Hughes, MD, MS, FCCM, Michael Devinney, MD, PhD, Christina Boncyk, MD, and Christina Hayhurst, MD, to discuss current evidence regarding a less-is-more approach to the brain in critically ill patients and its impact on long-term survivorship.
Register today! Plus, view our full 2022 webinar schedule: https://iars.org/iars-webinar-series/.
Maternal use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and neurobehavioral problems in offspring at 3 years: A prospective cohort study
OCTOBER 25, 2022
Using data from the First Baby Study, a prospective cohort study conducted in Pennsylvania, USA, with 2,423 mother-child pairs, this study examined the associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and offspring neurobehavioral problems at the age of 3 years, with a focus on the potentially confounding effects of prenatal stress. After adjustment for prenatal stress and other confounders, findings show that children who were exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy scored significantly higher on 2 of the 7 syndrome scale scores from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL): sleep problems and attention problems. Read more.
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Fellows Webinar
OCTOBER 25, 2022
Jake Hirschberg, MD presents “Trauma in Pregnancy for the Nonobstetric Provider” in the latest OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar.
NIDUS Pilots and Exploratory Core Offer Two Pilot Grants for $40,000 each
OCTOBER 13, 2022
Beginning in 2022, the NIDUS II Pilots and Exploratory Core will award two pilot grants in the amount of $40,000 each. These grants are designed to provide funding for investigation into prioritized areas of delirium research to advance innovation. Letters of Intent must be submitted by Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 5:00 pm EST. For full requirements, criteria, and application instructions, visit deliriumnetwork.org/pilots.
OCTOBER 17, 2022
Many of the IARS Board of Trustees and Anesthesia & Analgesia and A&A Practice Editors are coming to the Anesthesiology Annual Meeting, October 21-25, 2022 in New Orleans, LA. Take the opportunity to engage with these leaders and discover the latest takeaways on important topics in anesthesiology and beyond. Plus, be sure to join IARS for two special sessions at the meeting. Find out more.
Systems Anesthesiology: Integrating Insights From Diverse Disciplines to Improve Perioperative Care
OCTOBER 3, 2022
This month’s featured article defines a future frontier for critical care and perioperative medicine: “systems anesthesiology.” This dynamic approach to patient care incorporates emerging methods and information from the diverse disciplines of molecular, cellular, and computational sciences. We highlight the utilization of novel molecular markers for disease diagnosis and phenotyping, the incorporation of predictive models for perioperative risk stratification, and the extended reach of anesthesiologist-intensivists using virtual care and remote continuous monitoring.
October 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
OCTOBER 3, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the October 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Older adults worry about cognitive outcomes after surgery, but anesthesiologists may be uncomfortable with how exactly to discuss these risks with a concerned patient. Join our expert panel, Drs. Miles Berger, Odmara Barreto Chang, Elizabeth Whitlock and Stacie Deiner, for a webinar tailored to facilitate provider-patient conversations about the real implications of postoperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) in older adults planning to undergo surgery. Armed with this knowledge, providers will confront questions about PND with up-to-date patient-focused information, and will identify opportunities to align care with best practices.
Register today! Plus, view our full 2022 webinar schedule: https://iars.org/iars-webinar-series/.
100 Years of Pediatric Anesthesia with Anesthesia & Analgesia: Growing Together
OCTOBER 3, 2022
The authors discuss the pivotal roles of both Anesthesia & Analgesia (A&A) and the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) in the evolution of the pediatric anesthesiology subspecialty with emphasis on scholarship, clinical practice, and professionalism. A&A has been a distinguished resource on pediatric fundamentals in general anesthesia and on complex cases performed by pediatric anesthesiologists; it is a forum for the subspecialty as it matures. IARS has addressed important questions in modern anesthesiology practice, as reflected in the founding of SmartTots to foster research on the neurodevelopmental effects of anesthesia in children. Read more.
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Fellows Webinar
OCTOBER 3, 2022
Dr. Brad Bavarro presents “Simulation in Obstetric Anesthesia” in the latest OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar.
OA-SPA Ask the Expert
OCTOBER 3, 2022
Dr. Titi Aina and OpenAnesthesia® Editor Dr. Elisha Peterson discuss global health in anesthesia.
Happy Women in Medicine Month!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2022
IARS gratefully acknowledges the women of anesthesia! The women highlighted represent just a few of the many remarkable women with whom we are fortunate to collaborate. They guide and enrich our educational programs, research efforts and provide mentorship to those who follow. IARS is proud to encourage and support women in medicine along their important journey by ensuring access to a multitude of valuable resources and opportunities for connection with experts in the field of anesthesiology and beyond! Learn more.
Patient Blood Management Is a New Standard of Care to Optimize Blood Health
SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
The focus of this special themed issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia is Patient Blood Management (PBM). PBM is a new global standard of care to optimize a patient’s blood health. PBM involves the timely, multidisciplinary application of evidence-based multimodal medical and surgical concepts aimed at screening for, diagnosing, and treating anemia; minimizing surgical, procedural, and iatrogenic blood losses; and managing coagulopathic bleeding to improve health outcomes through patient-centered care.
September 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the September 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
The IARS Mentored Research Awards support investigators who are working to further the understanding of clinical practice in anesthesiology and related science. Our 2022 recipients are the future leaders in the field and their funded studies are vital to the progress of the specialty! Learn more about the 2022 recipients.
Preparing the Mind for Surgery: Examining the Potential for Physical, Cognitive, and Mindfulness Training to Improve Postoperative Outcomes | Tuesday, September 13 at 4:00 pm ET
SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
Based on data from the healthy older population, prehabilitation has emerged as a potential intervention to optimize postoperative recovery. Our expert panel, Drs. Christopher Hughes, Kimberly Rengel, Michelle Humeidan, Balachundhar Subramaniam and Brian O’Gara, will review the rationale for physical, cognitive, and mindfulness training to improve postoperative outcomes, and the unique challenges posed by prehabilitation research. Audience members interested in investigating or implementing prehabilitation programs can help advance this exciting field.
Register today! Plus, view our full 2022 webinar schedule: https://iars.org/iars-webinar-series/.
Neonatal Pain, Opioid, and Anesthetic Exposure; What Remains in the Human Brain After the Wheels of Time?
SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
What are the possible negative long-term effects of neonatal exposure to pain, opioids, and anesthetics? Investigators study 94 older children/adolescents with a history of neonatal exposure to pain, opioids, or anesthetics at different points along a continuum: from no pain to intense pain and from no opioid exposure to very high opioid exposure in the presence or absence of anesthetics. Findings show no major long-term effects from neonatal pain or opioid/anesthetic exposure apart from neuropsychological effects in those with the highest opioid exposure. Future studies with larger sample sizes should test for less pronounced differences between exposed and unexposed children. Read more.
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Fellows Webinar
SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
Dr. John J. Kowalczyk presents “Placenta Accreta Spectrum: Evolving Management and Trends” in the latest OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar.
OA-SPA Ask the Expert
SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
Dr. Mary Lyn Stein and OpenAnesthesia® Editor Dr. Jina Sinskey discuss an update on the topic of pediatric difficult airway.
Competency-Based Medical Training in Anesthesiology: Has It Delivered on the Promise of Better Education?
AUGUST 3, 2022
This issue focuses on the singular aspect of our field that will define how we practice clinical anesthesia for generations to come: educating future anesthesiologists. Articles contained herein discuss how training models have undergone dogmatic shifts towards competency-based assessment in an effort to ensure greater patient safety. Additionally, advances in digital technology have incorporated impressive virtual and augmented platforms to enhance simulation education and create global, collaborative access to training.
August 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
AUGUST 3, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the August 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
AUGUST 3, 2022
Save the date for the IARS, AUA and SOCCA 2023 Annual Meetings, April 13-17, in Denver, CO.
IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES
- Abstract Submission Live: September 9, 2022
- Abstract Submission Deadline: December 2, 2022
- Housing Site Live: September 2022
- Online Registration Available: December 2022
Sign up to receive Annual Meeting News!
More details are available at https://meetings.iars.org.
Join IARS on August 9 for a Webinar on Perioperative Teams: Mythical or Magical? How to Apply Organizational Psychology Research Findings to Enhance Perioperative Team Building and Performance
AUGUST 3, 2022
Moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Duggan, MD, MA, I&O Psychology, Dr. Neal Outland, PhD will present the IARS webinar, “Perioperative Teams: Mythical or Magical? How to Apply Organizational Psychology Research Findings to Enhance Perioperative Team Building and Performance” on Tuesday, August 9 at 4:00 pm ET. Teaming interventions in healthcare are increasingly popular. Under what conditions is team training most effective? Which team constructs are most applicable to the healthcare environment? How do leaders increase the effectiveness of teaming in the perioperative environment? Join this session to dispel team myths, improve teaming processes, and learn applicable solutions to building teams in the fast-paced, high-acuity operative arena.
Register today! Plus, view our full 2022 webinar schedule: https://iars.org/iars-webinar-series/.
Join Conversations in the IARS Online Member Community Following Live Events
AUGUST 3, 2022
Take a deeper dive! Join engaging conversations with speakers and peers in the IARS Online Member Community in DocMatter following live events. Get your questions answered and delve further into these important discussion topics.
Highlighted Discussions
- PBLD: 46 Year Old Undergoing Complex Spine Surgery
- PBLD: Descending Thoracic Aortic Repair: Spinal Cord Protection Strategies
- PBLD: Open Repair vs. 4-vessel Fenestrated Endovascular Repair
- PBLD: Perioperative Management of Buprenorphine: Stop, Drop or Continue?
- PBLD Part 2: Perioperative Management of Buprenorphine: Stop, Drop or Continue?
- Webinar: Perioperative Hypotension: A Key Driver of Organ Dysfunction and Perioperative Morbidity
- Webinar: Anesthesia Effects on Neuroplasticity in Developing Brain – The Role of Tau and Neuroinflammation (Poll Results)
- Webinar: Sleep and Circadian Disruption: Risk Factors and Pathological Pathways for Delirium and Neurocognitive Dysfunction
- Webinar: Screening for Sleep Apnea in Surgical Patients
SmartTots Funds Two New Research Initiatives!
AUGUST 3, 2022
SmartTots is pleased to announce the funding of two new research studies totaling $309,000, aimed at addressing remaining questions on the topic of pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity.
Learn more about both studies below and here: smarttots.org/research-and-grants.
Jimcy Platholi, MS, PhD
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Role of mossy fiber terminals in early anesthesia neurotoxicity
This project aims to understand how anesthetic-mediated disruption of mossy fiber transmission during development intersects with genetic variation to influence neuronal activity in later life.
Peter Szmuk, MD
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Neurodevelopmental Outcome after Standard Dose Sevoflurane Versus Low-Dose
This project supports phase III of the international TREX trial. The study compares the neurodevelopmental outcome after standard dose sevoflurane versus a combination of low-dose sevoflurane, dexmedetomidine and remifentanil anesthesia in young children having anesthesia expected to last 2 hours or longer.
Anesthetic Exposure During Childhood and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes – A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
AUGUST 3, 2022
Is there an association between exposure to general anesthesia and domain- specific neurodevelopmental outcomes in children? For their meta-analysis, investigators look at 31 studies reflecting data on 571 to 63,315 exposed children at < 18 years with an evaluation of long-term neurodevelopmental function after exposure vs. 802 to 311,610 unexposed children. Findings show children with any exposure, single or multiple, have significantly lower behavioral scores, indicating more behavioral problems and worse, but variable, scores in academics, cognition, executive function, general development, language, motor function, and non-verbal reasoning. The association between early anesthesia exposure and neurodevelopmental deficits differs based on the neurodevelopmental domain. Read more here.
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Fellows Webinar
AUGUST 3, 2022
Dr. J. Seth Rogerson discusses “Coagulopathies in Pregnancy: Congenital and Acquired” in the latest OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar.
OA-SPA Ask the Experts: Repost of July 2018 Episode
AUGUST 3, 2022
Dr. John E. Fiadjoe is interviewed on pediatric difficult airway. The next episode will be an update of this topic.
IARS COVID-19 Resources Receive the AAMSE Profile of Excellence Award in Education
JULY 21, 2022
The IARS has been recognized for its COVID-19 Resource Initiative and e-Newsletter by the American Association of Medical Society Executives (AAMSE) with the 2022 Profile of Excellence Award in Education. AAMSE, a professional association of over 1,300 medical society executives and staff specialists and more than 300 member organizations, recognizes one member organization in 6 categories (Advocacy, Communications, Education, Membership, Leadership, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) with their Profile of Excellence Awards. The awards honor the positive member and community impacts made by members that succeed in advancing the field of medicine and improving the lives of physicians and the patients they serve.
IARS is grateful for the significant time and effort donated by our tenacious and steadfast COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board, who for more than two years, have succeeded in providing an essential content base of the latest peer-reviewed articles on COVID-19 from leading medical journals and an e-newsletter identifying those articles of greatest clinical and scientific relevance with major takeaways. This resource is greatly valued by intensivists and anesthesiologists from around the world. IARS intends to continue to deliver these essential resources through the duration of the pandemic. Read more here.
Anesthesia Patient Safety: Next Steps to Improve Worldwide Perioperative Safety by 2030
JUNE 28, 2022
The focus of this month’s featured article is anesthesia patient safety around the world. Anesthesia professionals in all countries face unique challenges to providing safe perioperative care. Leaders of anesthesia societies from 13 countries around the globe provide insights into the major issues they encounter that impact perioperative patient safety.
JUNE 28, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the July 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Submit a Program Proposal for the 2023 Annual Meetings in Denver, Colorado!
JUNE 28, 2022
Share your great ideas and discoveries in anesthesiology and beyond – we want to hear from you! Your session proposals will be reviewed and considered for inclusion in the IARS, AUA and SOCCA 2023 Annual Meetings, April 13-17, in Denver, CO, or for the IARS Virtual Education Series and AUA and SOCCA monthly webinar series. Notifications on program status will be sent by late November 2022. Don’t miss this important opportunity to share knowledge, connect with peers and thought leaders and make a meaningful impact in the anesthesia community! Learn more here.
More details are available at https://meetings.iars.org.
Join IARS on August 9 for a Webinar on Perioperative Teams: Mythical or Magical? How to Apply Organizational Psychology Research Findings to Enhance Perioperative Team Building and Performance
JUNE 28, 2022
Moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Duggan, MD, MA, I&O Psychology, Dr. Neal Outland, PhD will present the IARS webinar, “Perioperative Teams: Mythical or Magical? How to Apply Organizational Psychology Research Findings to Enhance Perioperative Team Building and Performance” on Tuesday, August 9 at 4:00 pm ET. Teaming interventions in healthcare are increasingly popular. Under what conditions is team training most effective? Which team constructs are most applicable to the healthcare environment? How do leaders increase the effectiveness of teaming in the perioperative environment? Join this session to dispel team myths, improve teaming processes, and learn applicable solutions to building teams in the fast-paced, high-acuity operative arena.
Register today! Plus, view our full 2022 webinar schedule: https://iars.org/iars-webinar-series/.
Anesthetic Neurotoxicity in Infants and Children: A Review of the Literature
JUNE 28, 2022
Are concerns regarding anesthetic neurotoxicity (NT) overstated in healthy children who require anesthesia? To answer, the author conducted a literature review, including human studies between 2009 and 2020. Findings show that clinical evidence for anesthesia-related NT in children is not clear— there are incongruous results based on human trials. However, a number of independent, retrospective studies find no association between anesthesia and maladaptive cognitive outcomes in healthy children <2 years old. The author suggests that there is potential minimal or nonexistent long-term neurodevelopmental risk with a single anesthesia exposure in healthy infants and children. Biological, social and environmental factors may be more important in the determination of children’s cognitive potential. Future studies may look to focus on specific populations and procedure types that place the young brain at greatest risk during anesthesia. Read more here.
Pediatric Anesthetic Neurotoxicity: The Pre-Clinical Journey
JUNE 28, 2022
In this video, pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity investigators share their thoughts regarding the current state of pre-clinical research. What do we currently know? What questions remain? Are new anesthetics needed? Good progress is being made, but certainly new sources of funding are needed to answer these questions and more.
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Fellows Webinar
JUNE 28, 2022
Dr. Ryan M. Militana discusses “Current Considerations in Management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the Parturient” in the latest OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar.
IARS Emeritus Trustee Dr. Emery N. Brown Awarded Share of 2022 Gruber Neuroscience Prize
MAY 27, 2022
IARS Emeritus Trustee Emery N. Brown, MD, PhD, Edward Hood Taplin Professor of Computational Neuroscience and Health Sciences & Technology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was awarded a share of the 2022 Gruber Neuroscience Prize on May 17 for his trailblazing contributions to the fields of computational and theoretical neuroscience by the Gruber Foundation. This prestigious award, which honors scientists for major discoveries that advance the understanding of the nervous system, was given to Dr. Brown and three other renowned scientists, including neurophysicists Laurence Abbott of Columbia University, Terrence Sejnowski of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and Haim Sompolinsky of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Their collective work in these important fields is vital to unraveling the mysteries behind the complex neural networks in the brain. The Gruber Foundation will present this prize, which includes a total award of $500,000, at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience on November 13 in San Diego, CA. Read more.
JUNE 2022
Consciousness
MAY 25, 2022
This month’s featured article discusses key outstanding questions related to consciousness, including theoretical foundations, measurement of neural information, and the relationship of conscious experience to the physical world, and provides recommendations for how anesthesiologists can advance this foundational science. Additional empirical articles demonstrate how general anesthetics can be used to experimentally probe both level and content of consciousness. Current investigations and data support the hypothesis that both consciousness and unconsciousness reflect events at the scale of networks.
June 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
MAY 25, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the June 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Announcing the New Editor-in-Chief of OpenAnesthesia®
MAY 25, 2022
The IARS is pleased to announce the appointment of Debnath Chatterjee, MD, FAAP, of Children’s Hospital Colorado as the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of OpenAnesthesia® (OA). OA is an IARS site that offers a collection of anesthesia-related online education resources for anesthesiology residents and physicians worldwide. Since 2016, Dr. Chatterjee has been a contributing member of the OA Editorial Board as a Pediatric Anesthesia Section Editor. In his new role as OA EIC, he will be responsible for the overall quality and ongoing development of OA content, recruiting and managing a board of editors, and contributing to the overall strategy and vision for OA. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Chatterjee in this important position for OA and IARS.
2022 Marks 100 Years of IARS and Anesthesia & Analgesia
MAY 25, 2022
The International Anesthesia Research Society and Anesthesia & Analgesia are 100 in 2022! Over the coming year, we will reflect on the foundation, the key moments and people who made IARS and A&A what it is today. Many memorable moments have stood out for us, but we are eager to know yours as well!
Share your favorite IARS and A&A memory with us! We are looking for your photos, illustrating these moments, especially from 2009 through present.
Email your photos and stories to [email protected] or post on social media, #IARS100!
Credit: Courtesy of the IARS Archives, the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology
1974 The Anesthesia & Analgesia Editorial Board sent out holiday cards to participants in the Journal while Dr. Harry Seldon was Editor-in-Chief. This 1974 card cover includes a sailboat with a sail sporting the title of the Journal. The artist for this card is unknown.
Join IARS on July 12 for a Webinar on Biomarkers, Risk Factors and Practice Recommendations for Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders
MAY 25, 2022
Drs. David Scott, Stacie G. Deiner and Lisbeth Evered will present the IARS webinar, “Biomarkers, Risk Factors and Practice Recommendations for Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders” on Tuesday, July 12 at 4:00 pm ET. This symposium, sponsored by the Society for the Advancement of Geriatric Anesthesia, will examine most recent data on sequential inflammatory biomarkers throughout anesthesia and surgery and their association with perioperative neurocognitive disorders. Additionally, the expert speakers will provide an update on risk factors in vulnerable geriatric patients, especially frailty, and on clinical practice recommendations for caring for the geriatric patient.
Register today! Plus, view our full 2022 webinar schedule: https://iars.org/iars-webinar-series/.
Join Conversations in the IARS Online Member Community Following Live Events
MAY 25, 2022
Take a deeper dive! Join engaging conversations with speakers and peers in the IARS Online Member Community in DocMatter following live events. Get your questions answered and delve further into these important discussion topics.
Highlighted Discussions
- PBLD: Perioperative Management of Buprenorphine: Stop, Drop or Continue?
- Webinar: Anesthesia Effects on Neuroplasticity in Developing Brain – The Role of Tau and Neuroinflammation (Poll Results)
- Webinar: Sleep and Circadian Disruption: Risk Factors and Pathological Pathways for Delirium and Neurocognitive Dysfunction
- Webinar: Screening for Sleep Apnea in Surgical Patients
Impact of Surgery and Anesthesia During Early Brain Development: A Perfect Storm
MAY 25, 2022
In this review article, the authors explore the effects of neonatal surgery on neurobiological processes in the rapidly developing brain. The authors 1) provide a structured summary of early brain development; 2) discuss the literature on brain injury and neurodevelopmental outcomes; 3) describe mechanisms of injury after neonatal surgery; and 4) propose a disease model built on the triad of inflammation, vascular immaturity, and neurotoxicity due to prolonged exposure to anesthesia. This triad creates the “perfect storm” for anesthesia-induced neonatal brain injury. Read more here.
IARS Virtual Education Series: Anesthesia Effects on Neuroplasticity in Developing Brain – Clinical Aspect and Research Insight
MAY 25, 2022
View the latest IARS Virtual Education webinar! The May webinar addressed anesthesia’s effect on neuroplasticity in the developing brain with guest speakers addressing critical topics including the role of brain circuitry, tau and neuroinflammation, mechanisms of injury and more.
Long-Time Champion of IARS Dr. Santhanam Suresh Steps into Role of Chair and New Officers Announced
APRIL 28, 2022
Santhanam Suresh, MD, MBA, FASA, FAAP, has assumed the role of Chair of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) Board of Trustees effective April 1. A long-time champion of the IARS mission to improve patient care through research and education, Dr. Suresh has actively strived to further that mission through many roles during his service as an IARS Trustee. His strong dedication to the organization and the anesthesia community now take him into his next leadership role as IARS Board Chair.
In addition to Dr. Suresh’s new position on the IARS Board of Trustees, the new officers have been announced. The officers include Immediate Past Chair Christian P. Werner, MD, Chair-Elect and Secretary Beverley A. Orser, MD, PhD, Treasurer Laura E. Niklason, MD, PhD and Journal Liaison Max B. Kelz, MD, PhD. Learn more about the IARS Board of Trustees here.
Future of Perioperative Precision Medicine: Integration of Molecular Science, Dynamic Health Care Informatics, and Implementation of Predictive Pathways in Real Time
APRIL 28, 2022
The focus of this month’s featured article is the future of perioperative precision medicine. Science is undergoing a reproducibility crisis. Several clinical trials have not been replicable. One of the several reasons is the lack of in-depth mechanistic aspects of diseases and therapies. Although it may not be easy, it is time to move beyond clinical statistical significance to individualized trials whenever and wherever feasible.
May 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
APRIL 28, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the May 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Join IARS on May 10 for a Webinar on Neuroplasticity in Developing Brain and Other Important Related Resources
APRIL 28, 2022
Drs. Laszlo Vutskits, Mary Ellen McCann, Guang Yang and Zhongcong Xie will present the IARS webinar, “Anesthesia Effects on Neuroplasticity in Developing Brain – Clinical Aspect and Research Insight” on Tuesday, May 10 at 4:00 pm ET. Moderated by Dr. Beverley Orser, this session will provide updated clinical aspects and research insights regarding anesthesia effects on neuroplasticity in the young brain. The participants of the panel will discuss their opinions and provide advice regarding clinical anesthesia and anesthesia research in children.
Register today! Plus, view our full 2022 webinar schedule: https://iars.org/iars-webinar-series/.
Annual Meeting Sessions: Continue Conversations in the Member Community!
APRIL 28, 2022
Discussions that began at the IARS 2022 Annual Meeting sessions continue in the Member Community. Additionally, speakers from select sessions will also be available for further questions and discussions. Give feedback, engage with peers and get your questions answered!
Some Highlighted Community Conversations
- Use of Buprenorphine for Patients with OUD in the Perioperative Period
- Applying Molecular and Systems Neuroscience to Develop Reversal Agents for General Anesthesia
- Leading Multi-site Perioperative Clinical Trials: What I Know Now but Wish I Had Known Then
- Regional Anesthesia Techniques in Pediatric and Neonatal Surgery
- Right Heart Failure –’What to Do When Right is Wrong?’
2022 Marks 100 Years of IARS and Anesthesia & Analgesia
APRIL 28, 2022
IARS is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022. Over the coming year, we will reflect on the foundation, the key moments and people who made the International Anesthesia Research Society and Anesthesia & Analgesia what it is today. Many memorable moments have stood out for us, but we are eager to know yours as well!
Share your favorite IARS and A&A memory with us! We are looking for your photos, illustrating these moments.
Email your photos and stories to [email protected] or post on social media, #IARS100!
1960 Dr. Harold Griffith, a charter Trustee of IARS, spoke at the IARS Congress in Washington.
Credit: Courtesy of the IARS Archives, the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology
General Anesthesia and the Young Brain: The Importance of Novel Strategies with Alternate Mechanisms of Action. Maksimovic et al. February 2022.
APRIL 28, 2022
What do we currently know about neuroactive steroids as a promising novel general anesthetic for children? Given the number of preclinical and clinical studies describing and/or suggesting an association between exposure to general anesthesia (GA) and neurocognitive issues, investigators explore alternatives to GA, focusing on synthetic neuroactive steroid analogues (NSAs). NSAs have emerged as effective hypnotics free of neurotoxic effects and long-term cognitive side effects. Some steroid analogues, with different cellular targets and mechanisms of action than currently used GAs, may be safe alternatives. Read more here.
Designing the Proper Study: Pediatric Anesthetic Neurotoxicity
APRIL 28, 2022
In this video, pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity thought leaders ponder the feasibility of designing and conducting studies that successfully isolate the effects of anesthetics from the effects of the procedure or patient’s underlying condition.
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Fellows Webinar
APRIL 28, 2022
Dr. Cesar Padilla discusses “Benefits of Dual OB Anesthesiology/Critical Care Fellowships” in the latest OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar.
Announcing the New Social Media Editors for Anesthesia & Analgesia and A&A Practice
MARCH 31, 2022
The IARS is pleased to announce the appointment of Emily Sharpe, MD (@emilysharpe) of Mayo Clinic and Jarna Shah, MD (@JarnaShahMD) of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences as the Social Media Editors for Anesthesia & Analgesia and A&A Practice (Twitter: @IARS_Journals; Facebook: @AnesthesiaandAnalgesia; Instagram: @iars_journals). Drs. Sharpe and Shah bring great social media experience and enthusiasm to their roles. Together, they will recruit a team of social media ambassadors and increase visibility of the IARS Journals’ content, deepening engagement with authors and readers, as well as adding more social media-oriented multimedia content.
Future of Clinical Trial Methodology
MARCH 31, 2022
This month’s featured article considers the challenges of designing, conducting, and interpreting clinical trials. Better still, solutions and a pathway forward are provided. Anesthesia clinical trial networks have been created across the world, providing shared expertise, centralized data management and statistical analysis, infrastructure, and other resources to improve the efficiency and value of clinical trials. Innovations in clinical trial design, digital technologies, consumer engagement, and implementation science are also changing how we design and conduct clinical trials.
April 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
MARCH 31, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the April 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
Watch Session Recordings from the 2022 Annual Meetings!
MARCH 31, 2022
The IARS, AUA and SOCCA 2022 Annual Meetings were held virtually. Registered attendees can access session recordings via https://iarsauasocca.pathable.co/ until June 21, 2022.
Missed the meeting? You can still register to watch session recordings and earn Enduring Material CME, if available. Visit https://meetings.iars.org/ for more information.
Annual Meeting Sessions: Continue Conversations in the Member Community!
MARCH 31, 2022
Discussions that began at the IARS 2022 Annual Meeting sessions continue in the Member Community. Additionally, speakers from select sessions will also be available for further questions and discussions. Give feedback, engage with peers and get your questions answered!
To see featured discussions, please go to the discussion filter of the IARS Member Community. You will see a drop-down menu, entitled “2022 Annual Meeting.” Select “Session Highlights” to see the Discussions related to this year’s meeting.
To access specific Member Community conversations, you will need to initially log into your account in the community.
Some Highlighted Community Conversations
- Leading Multi-site Perioperative Clinical Trials: What I Know Now but Wish I Had Known Then
- Managing Down: Infamous Millennials
- Making Mentorship Work
- Updating the Confusion: Emerging Physiologic Markers of Postoperative Brain Dysfunction
- Novel Neurosteroids
- Applying Molecular and Systems Neuroscience to Develop Reversal Agents for General Anesthesia
- Understanding Artificial Intelligence: Building Interpretable Models
Discover Key Takeaways from Sessions and Member Discussions in The Daily Dose!
MARCH 31, 2022
The Daily Dose, the official e-newsletter of the IARS Annual Meeting and Scholars’ Day, will keep you in the conversation. Here’s how:
- Discover major takeaways from sessions on important topics – read all the issues and catch up on what you missed today!
- Continue the conversation following your sessions in the member community.
- Share your experience on social media with #iars22 and #scholars22.
- Watch highlighted session recordings.
- Meet our dynamic Daily Dose team here.
- Share feedback, comments or ideas for future issues of The Daily Dose – email us at [email protected]!
Be sure to read coverage from the 2022 Scholars’ Day in the April 8th issue of The Daily Dose. Learn more here.
Save the Date for our 2023 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado!
MARCH 31, 2022
The IARS Annual Meeting will take place April 14-17, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. We hope to see you there in person!
More details are available at https://meetings.iars.org/past-future-meetings/future/.
Join IARS on April 12 for a Webinar on Sleep and Circadian Disruption and Other Important Related Resources
MARCH 31, 2022
Drs. Michael Devinney, Reine Ibala, Melissa Knauert and Elizabeth Wilcox will present the IARS webinar, “Sleep and Circadian Disruption: Risk Factors and Pathological Pathways for Delirium and Neurocognitive Dysfunction,” on Tuesday, April 12 at 4:00 pm EDT. Moderated by Dr. Lei Gao, this session will be dedicated to providing attendees with practical strategies to combat fatigue, maximize performance, and enhance patient safety.
Register today! Plus, view our full 2022 webinar schedule: https://iars.org/iars-webinar-series/.
Do We Have Viable Protective Strategies against Anesthesia-Induced Developmental Neurotoxicity? Useinovic, Maksimovic, Near, Quillinan, and Jevtovic-Todorovic. January 2022.
MARCH 31, 2022
This mini review summarizes strategies for protecting the developing human brain from general anesthesia (GA)-induced neurotoxicity. The authors explore 1) mechanisms of neuroprotection and clinical applications; 2) intracellular targets and signal-transduction pathways for a diverse group of chemicals; 3) epigenetic and transgenerational effects of GA, potential remedies, and approaches that delay or reduce anesthesia; and 4) evidence for a novel class of anesthetics with distinct mechanisms of action and promising safety profiles. Read more here.
Fresh from the Recent IARS Annual Meeting! SmartTots: New Directions in Pediatric Anesthetic Neurotoxicity Research
MARCH 31, 2022
Investigators and experts on this topic, Drs. Vesna Jevtovic-Todorovic, Viola Neudecker and Caleb Ing, presented the major findings of recent studies, and how these results contribute to the literature in the area of anesthesia neurotoxicity during the SmartTots session, “New Directions in Pediatric Anesthetic Neurotoxicity Research.” Held on Sunday, March 20 at the IARS 2022 Annual Meeting, the speakers highlighted the latest pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity research.
Can’t spare an hour? View the session in small doses:
Novel Neurosteroids – Vesna Jevtovic-Todorovic, MD, PhD
Behavioral Phenotype After Anesthetic Exposure in Non-Human Primates – Viola Neudecker, MD
Behavioral Phenotype In Clinical Studies of Anesthetic Neurotoxicity – Caleb Ing, MD, MS
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Fellows Webinar
MARCH 31, 2022
Dr. Jennifer Banayan discusses “Cardiovascular Emergencies on Labor and Delivery” in the latest OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar.
OA-SPA Ask the Experts
MARCH 31, 2022
Dr. Genevieve Staudt and OpenAnesthesia® Editor Dr. Jina Sinskey discuss Fontan physiology.
Paloma Toledo, MD, MPH, Named Inaugural Executive Editor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) of Anesthesia & Analgesia
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
Paloma Toledo, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Northwestern University in Chicago IL, has been named the inaugural Executive Editor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) of Anesthesia & Analgesia. The IARS is proud to announce this appointment by Dr. Jean-Francois Pittet, MD, DEAA, Editor-in-Chief of A&A. Dr. Toledo has been on the A&A Editorial Board since 2014 and has extensive experience as a leader and researcher in healthcare disparities. With this new role, the IARS is committed to ensure that its Journals actively support and promote diversity and equity in all areas – from the authors, editors, and reviewers to the content of our articles, and more. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Toledo in this important position for A&A and the IARS.
Pro-Con Debate: Anesthesiologist- Versus Hospitalist-Run Preoperative Clinics and Perioperative Care
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
This month’s Anesthesia & Analgesia cover art depicts the various categories of Health Services Research (HSR), which is defined as a multidisciplinary field that studies how economic systems, organizational structures and processes, emerging health technologies, and personal behaviors affect the delivery of care in the “real world” and ultimately, the overall health of our patients. The cover specifically depicts the research continuum from basic research to translational research to clinical research to health services research. If we accept that the ultimate goal of this research continuum is to improve the health of our patients, it is clear that it’s not enough (for example) to develop a new treatment and then show its clinical superiority over existing treatment. In fact, we would go so far as to call this a surrogate outcome that is easy to measure but does not reflect the real goal of the research continuum. Indeed, HSR measures (for example) effective execution of knowledge translation, and this construct is frequently difficult because of the silo mentality that is embedded in our healthcare system. Knowledge translation requires a fully integrated system to execute the care, and that is difficult when various specialties “compete” rather than “collaborate.” Surgeons have already embraced HSR –we hope that this themed issue will contribute to the development of perioperative HSR in anesthesiology, foster more consideration of how we effectively translate the knowledge from scientific endeavors into high-quality care, and act as an impetus for the development of grant mechanisms directed at this area.
March 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the March 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
2022 Marks 100 Years of IARS and Anesthesia & Analgesia
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
IARS is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022. Over the coming year, we will reflect on the foundation, the key moments and people who made the International Anesthesia Research Society and Anesthesia & Analgesia what it is today. Many memorable moments have stood out for us, but we are eager to know yours as well!
Share your favorite IARS and A&A memory with us! We are looking for your photos, illustrating these moments.
Email your photos and stories to [email protected] or post on social media, #IARS100!
Credit: Courtesy of the IARS Archives, the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology
1934 Dr. Francis McMechan poses with honored guest from Germany, Dr. Philip Mueller, and other attendees of the 13th Congress of Anesthestists at the McAlpin Hotel in New York City.
Support Important Anesthesia Research
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
Your Amazon shopping can also make a difference by supporting important anesthesia research! Just shop AmazonSmile and select the International Anesthesia Research Society as the organization for donation.
Early Development of the GABAergic System and the Associated Risks of Neonatal Anesthesia. Gascoigne, Serdyukova, & Aksenov. November 2021
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
How does neonatal anesthesia impact the gamma aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABA) system, one that normally supports neuron development, in ways that lead to deficits in learning and behavior in children? Findings show that, because the GABA systems of children develop over a long period of time, it is not possible to identify the entirety of negative anesthesia-induced effects on learning and behavior. These negative effects are not immediately evident and take years to develop. Alternatively, the authors offer a variety of in vivo methods for measuring the GABA-related effects of neonatal anesthesia on learning and behavior over time. Read more here.
Pediatric Anesthetic Neurotoxicity: Finding Ways to Move Forward
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
In this video, pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity investigators discuss the state of the research and identify compelling ways to move the field forward.
OpenAnesthesia®-Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology Fellows Webinar
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
Dr. Mark Zakowski from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center discusses “Cannabinoids in Pregnancy: Physiologic Effects and Anesthetic Considerations” in the latest OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar.
OA-SPA Ask the Experts
FEBRUARY 28, 2022
Dr. Patrick Fernandez and OpenAnesthesia® Editor Dr. Debnath Chatterjee discuss the anesthetic care of children with food and PCN allergies.
2022 Cycle of the IARS Mentored Research Award Now Open!
Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 IARS Mentored Research Awards (IMRA) through April 30, 2022! Up to four research projects will be selected in 2022, each with a maximum award of $175,000 payable over two years. IMRA applications may be in any area of investigation (clinical, translational, basic science), but must have ultimate relevance to the broad practice of anesthesiology and its subspecialties.
To learn more, visit iars.org/awards/IMRA. To apply, click here.
IMRA has a lasting, positive impact on a researcher’s career by developing leadership skills while simultaneously advancing the specialty. As an example, 2014 IMRA recipient Dr. Miles Berger is continuing the research on his original funded thesis, “The trajectory and significance of perioperative changes in AD biomarkers,” see the latest update on his research here.
FAER Spring 2022 Grant Cycle Closing Soon
Time is running out to apply for the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research’s (FAER) Spring 2022 Grant Cycle. Applications for the Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG), Research Fellowship Grant (RFG), and Research in Education Grant (REG) close February 15, 2022. Learn more and apply today at FAER.org/Grants.
Anesthesiologists as Health System Leaders: Why It Works
As anesthesiologists and health system leaders, we have learned the important lesson that it’s not about “winning” but about finding solutions. Effective leadership frequently avoids the use of “command and control” that is an externalized and often rigid, coercive, and noncollaborative leadership style. Rather, we see ourselves as servant leaders, those who deemphasize self and prioritize the needs of others as part of a larger healthcare team.
A&A 2022 Centennial Futuristic Article Series
As part of our Centennial recognition, Anesthesia & Analgesia commissioned a series of papers focused on the future trajectory of anesthesiology, perioperative medicine, critical care, and pain medicine. These papers will be added to an online collection as they publish in Anesthesia & Analgesia throughout 2022.
February 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the February 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
The 2022 Annual Meetings are Going Fully Virtual!
After much consideration, the International Anesthesia Research Society, the Association of University Anesthesiologists, and the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists have decided to shift our in-person 2022 Annual Meetings to a fully virtual format.
The virtual meetings will be held over the same dates as planned – March 17-20, 2022. The meetings will begin at 10:00 am EST each day. This virtual experience will allow attendees to take advantage of flexible learning, featuring the same high-quality educational sessions for which the annual meetings are known. Participants will have access to educational content for three months after the meeting. View the program via https://meetings.iars.org.
Now Accepting Applications for the 2022 IARS Mentored Research Awards!
Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 IARS Mentored Research Awards (IMRA) through April 30, 2022! For over 100 years the core mission of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) has been to encourage, stimulate, and support anesthesia-related research projects that will improve patient care and advance the specialty. IARS established its Mentored Research Awards to help create future leaders and prepare applicants to obtain independent research funding. Up to four research projects will be selected in 2022, each with a maximum award of $175,000 payable over two years. IMRA applications may be in any area of investigation (clinical, translational, basic science), but must have ultimate relevance to the broad practice of anesthesiology and its subspecialties.
To learn more and view past successful IMRA research endeavors, visit iars.org/awards/IMRA. To apply, visit https://proposalcentral.com.
Anesthesia and Developing Brains: Unanswered Questions and Proposed Paths Forward. Ing et al. January 2022
In their report, SmartTots investigators provide consensus and address areas of disagreement on burning issues in pediatric anesthesia safety and neurotoxicity in children. Topics include: 1) preclinical data from animal models and translation to humans; 2) the state of clinical evidence; 3) perioperative factors that affect outcomes; 4) consensus and differences of opinion; 5) evidence required to show that exposure to general anesthesia causes long-term neurodevelopmental deficits in children; 6) children who are most vulnerable; and 7) experience from environmental neurotoxin studies. New research approaches are needed to determine whether a recognized phenotype is caused by anesthetic medications or other factors. Clinical evidence is mixed and key questions on anesthesia-induced neurotoxicity in children are still under debate. Pediatric neurotoxicity research is in the middle of its evolution when compared to research of other potentially toxic chemicals. Further research on the long-term neurodevelopmental effects of anesthesia is necessary. Read more here.
SmartTots: Building Community and Advocating for Important Research
In this video, SmartTots pediatric anesthetic neurotoxicity thought leaders discuss the current status of the field and provide insights into the future of the research.
Deadline Approaching! SmartTots Now Accepting Research Grant Applications – $250,000 available!
SmartTots is now accepting research grant applications aimed at continuing the ongoing work to advance the knowledge and understanding of the effects of anesthetics on the developing brain and address current unknowns. Both clinical and preclinical projects are welcome. New projects building on the work of an earlier study are encouraged. Pilot projects will be considered.
To access the guidelines, view the specific questions of interest, and determine your eligibility, click here. Submit applications here.
Application Deadline: February 28, 2022
FAER Spring 2022 Grant Cycle Open Now
Applications for the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research’s (FAER) Spring 2022 Grant Cycle are open now through February 15, 2022. Grants available include the Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG), Research Fellowship Grant (RFG), and Research in Education Grant (REG). As part of this grant cycle, FAER also has funds available for obstetric anesthesiology related research for MRTGs, REGs, and RFGs, as well as funds for an MRTG focused on education research through SAAAPM. For more information on these grants and how to apply, visit FAER.org/Grants.
Practice Patterns and Variability in Intraoperative Opioid Utilization: A Report From the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group
The focus of this month’s featured article is the intersection of one of the key foundational practices of anesthesia care, intraoperative opioid administration, and administration practice patterns. The authors have characterized and quantified variability in intraoperative opioid practice patterns using a Bayesian analysis. Their work demonstrates the significant variability in practice between institutions and forms a strong foundational background for future research in this area.
January 2022 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the January 2022 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
2022 Marks 100 Years of IARS and Anesthesia & Analgesia
Over the coming year, we will journey back in time to reflect on the foundation, the key moments and people who made the International Anesthesia Research Society and Anesthesia & Analgesia what it is today. Many memorable moments have stood out for us but we are eager to know yours as well!
Share your favorite IARS memory with us! Email your stories and photos to [email protected] or post on social media #IARS100!
Discuss IARS Webinar on Perioperative Hypotension in the Member Community
Join in the conversation with the expert speakers from December’s IARS Webinar on “Perioperative Hypotension – A Key Driver of Organ Dysfunction and Perioperative Morbidity” in the IARS Member Community in DocMatter. You can post any other questions or topics you’d like further input on following the live event.
IARS full members who did not participate in the live webinar, but who wish to view a select recording or earn CME, can access both here. Also, the recordings from all 2021 webinars are available in the same location.
Physician Wellness Channel in the IARS Member Community
In an effort to better support physician wellness, we are excited to announce we will be creating a specific physician wellness channel in the IARS Member Community that members can join to share and collaborate with one another around resources and initiatives pertinent to clinician physical and mental wellbeing.
We are always looking for new ways to support the wellness of our members. If you’d be interested in getting further involved with wellness-related initiatives, please feel free to reach out to Meghan Whitbeck at [email protected]. We appreciate your support!
View 2021 IARS Webinars and Claim CME
The IARS 2021 Virtual Education Series has concluded for 2021 but IARS full members can still view recordings of our sessions and claim CME. To learn more, please click here.
SmartTots Now Accepting Research Grant Applications – $250,000 available!
SmartTots is now accepting research grant applications aimed at continuing the ongoing work to advance the knowledge and understanding of the effects of anesthetics on the developing brain and address current unknowns. Both clinical and preclinical projects are welcome. New projects building on the work of an earlier study are encouraged. Pilot projects will be considered.
To access the guidelines, view the specific questions of interest, and determine your eligibility, click here. Submit applications here.
Application Deadline: February 28, 2022
OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar Series
Dr. Dan Drzymalski presents “From the American Revolution to the Maternity Ward: A History of Accepting Obstetric Anesthesia” in the December 2021 episode of the OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar Series.
APSF-FAER Mentored Research Training Grant Letter of Intent Submissions
The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research is currently accepting Letter of Intent (LOI) submissions now through January 1, 2022, for the APSF-FAER Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG). Co-sponsored by the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF), the APSF-FAER MRTG comprises $300,000 in funding over two years and aims to help anesthesiologists develop the skills and preliminary data they need to become independent investigators in the field of anesthesia patient safety. Learn more and submit your LOI at FAER.org/APSF.
Register now for Perioperative Hypotension – A Key Driver of Organ Dysfunction and Perioperative Morbidity on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 4:00 pm ET
Join us for the upcoming webinar, “Perioperative Hypotension – A Key Driver of Organ Dysfunction and Perioperative Morbidity,” on Tuesday, December 14, at 4:00 pm ET, to interact with our expert speakers Drs. Duminda Wijeysundera, J Robert Sneyd and Judith van Waes. Plus, continue the conversation around this topic in the IARS Member Community following the webinar.
The IARS Virtual Education Webinar Series gives you the opportunity to attend member-developed educational sessions, addressing top-of-mind topics in anesthesiology today. IARS full members may also view recordings on our website as your schedule allows. Our monthly educational webinars are open to the public and CME and recordings are available for IARS full members. To register for upcoming events, please click here.
Impact of Neuraxial Versus General Anesthesia on Discharge Destination in Patients Undergoing Primary Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement
This month’s cover art depicts the rapid patient throughput from arrival to the ambulatory facility to discharge home after day case or same-day surgery. Ambulatory surgical care continues to expand and has become the fastest growing segment of the health care industry. Ambulatory surgery is associated with improved postoperative outcomes and lower health care costs.
December 2021 A&A Video Summary: Featured Articles
View this video summary covering three featured articles in the December 2021 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
IARS 2022 Annual Meeting, March 18-20
Join us in Honolulu, Hawaii to reconnect with colleagues and share the latest state-of-the-art education and clinical research data across all areas of anesthesia. Make your hotel reservation today!
Neurotoxicity Outside the Operating Room: An Evolving Challenge for Pediatricians and Pediatric Subspecialists
The US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in December 2016 that prolonged or repeated exposure to general anesthesia and sedatives that block N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors or potentiate gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity could have a potentially negative impact on brain development in children. Children who undergo multiple procedures and those younger than 3 years who are exposed to general anesthesia for more than 3 hours were deemed at risk for potential neurotoxicity from anesthesia exposure. Unfortunately, the number of pediatric diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in children outside the operating room continues to increase, and non-anesthesiologists from various pediatric subspecialties play an increasingly important role in providing this care. Read more here.
Discuss IARS and SASM Webinar on Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Pregnant Women in the Member Community
Join in the conversation with the expert speakers from November’s IARS and Society for Anesthesia and Sleep Medicine Webinar on “Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Pregnant Women: Updates on Screening, Treatment, and Management” in the IARS Member Community in DocMatter. You can post any other questions or topics you’d like further input on following the live event here and see other discussions in the obstetric anesthesia topical channel. IARS full members who did not participate in the live webinar, but who wish to view a recording or earn Enduring Material CME, can access both here.
OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar Series
Dr. Jason Papazian discusses “OB Anesthesia and a History of Back Pathology and Back Surgery” in the November 2021 episode of the OA-SOAP Fellows Webinar Series.
The National Academy of Medicine honors two IARS Trustees
The National Academy of Medicine recently recognized IARS Trustees George Mashour, MD, PhD, and Beverley Ann Orser, MD, PhD, FRCPC, for their professional accomplishments and service to the field of medicine and health care, electing them as members to its esteemed membership of the top individuals in their field of medicine. Their election to the 2018 class of the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the field. Read more here.
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