Expert Highlights Emerging Technologies in Anesthesia

Some of the important technological landmarks in anesthesia in the immediate future include advances in nanotechnology, robotics, smart pumps, automation and artificial intelligence in clinical decisions, said Dr.Gopinath Ramachandran, Professor and Head, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, delivering the Prof. Vijaylakshmi Kamat Memorial Oration yesterday on 'Technology in Anesthesia - Looking Forward' at Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai.

              Listing the successful use of advanced technologies, Dr. Gopinath Ramachandran observed that nanocapsules, nanospheres, nanoparticles and implantable drug delivery systems can help in complex situations. The Kepler Intubation System (KIS), a robotic system first used at the Montreal General Hospital in April last year, was found to be very effective.

Another landmark is automated anesthesia system using NI LabVIEW - a closed loop control system using graphical programming software that automatically monitors a patient's depth of consciousness, level of pain and muscle relaxation to calculate and administer appropriate doses of anesthetic drugs. Smart pumps using special softwares alert users to potential errors, provide dosing guidelines with a library of medications and "just in time" clinical advisories. 

Teleanesthesia became a landmark when in August 2010 a patient underwent thyroid gland surgery in Italy remotely anesthetized from Montreal.  Simulators like Virtual Anesthesia Machine (VAM) can train young anesthesiologists in perfecting their skills.  All these innovations can help a most successful outcome in healthcare and therefore we must be aware of the emerging technologies, Dr. Gopinath added.

Earlier in his key-note address Dr.S.Rangaswami, Vice Chancellor, Sri Ramachandra University said that in spite of automation and technology the dexterity and skill of a trained anesthesiologist will help prevent a complex situation from developing into a complicated one.  The oration was part of Ramachandra Anesthesia Continuing Education Programme (RACE 2012) which was attended by anesthesiologists and students from all over India.

Source: Medindia