On the Study and Practice of Intravenous Anaesthesia

This book is the result of the efforts of the speakers and chairmen of the past two EuroSIVA meetings held in Barcelona and Amsterdam in 1998 and 1999, respectively. The manuscripts, brought together in this book, give an overview of the presentations at these meetings and thereby offer an insight into the state of the art of intravenous anaesthesia science and the application of scientific data to clinical practice. The book is divided into four sections, on the modelling of anaesthetic action with special interest in the effect site, the perioperative use of intravenous hypnotic agents, the state of the art of neuromuscular blockade, and, lastly, on opioids as used for perioperative pain relief. We hope that this book reflects the same atmosphere of scientific progress and collaboration in intravenous anaesthetic drug pharmacology that was experienced in the Barcelona and Amsterdam meetings. Furthermore we are sure that it will be of educational value to all of us, anaesthesiologists and pharmacologists, who are involved in the science and clinical application of anaesthesia.