Main description:

close circle of anaesthetic scientists but, with the help of computer technology, has greatly influenced the practice of the modern clinical anaesthesiologist. The efforts of anaesthesiologists, pharmaceutical companies, and the development of the internet has lead to a situation that now almost every anaesthesiologist can be in close contact to anaesthetic pharmacology computer simulation pro grams and target controlled infusion devices. These two tools allow us to in crease our understanding and improve the controllability of anaesthetic drug administration, on site, in the operating theatre. In Europe the growing enthusi asm regarding the study and practice of intravenous anaesthesia has lead to an increased output of manuscripts on this subject, the initiation of workshops on the pharmacology of anaesthetic agents and the formation of a society that embodies this spirit; the European Society for Intravenous Anaesthesia, the EuroSIVA. EuroSIVA The concept of EuroSIVA has been to provide a forum to co-ordinate, facilitate and promote high quality presentations in the area of intravenous drug admini stration. The first two meetings held in 1988 in Barcelona and 1999 in Amster dam achieved these aims. During the Barcelona and Amsterdam meetings pre senters of over 10 countries shared their knowledge with 250 and 400 partici pants, respectively. In addition to the EuroSIVA meetings the international board aims to promote education for those involved with intravenous anaes thesia.

Contents:

List of contributors. Preface. Modelling of anaesthetic action: The effect site. Physiological modelling and the effect site; M. Weiss. Targeting the effect site; J.G. Bovill. Effect sites of intravenous anaesthetic agents; K. Morita, et al. Exploring the plasma-effect site concentration difference during effect site controlled infusion; C. Moiny, et al. Genetic models and mapping genes in the study of anaesthetic action; V.J. Simpson, et al. The perioperative use of hypnotic agents. Total intravenous anaesthesia: the equipment; F.H.M. Engbers. Closed loop control of general anaesthesia; A. Absolom, G.N.C. Kenny. The effect of opioids on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of propofol; J. Vuyk. Strategies to prevent awareness; M. Struys, et al. Patient controlled sedation during locoregional anaesthesia; N. Sutcliffe, D. Amutike. Target controlled sedation in the intensive care unit; S.M. Groen-Mulder. State of the art on neuromuscular blockade. Computer-controlled infusion of neuromuscular blocking agents; V. Billard, P. Mavoungou. New neuromuscular blocking agents and fast-tracking anaesthesia; H. Mellinghoff. Neuromuscular blocking agents in the elderly; F. Servin. The use of neuromuscular blocking agents in the ICU; K.S. Khunl-Brady. Neuromuscular blocking agents and neuromuscular diseases; B. Plaud, F. Donati. Sites of respiratory action of opioids; E. Sarton, A. Dahan. Remifentanil - a new age in anaesthesia? J. Raeder. Monitored anaesthesia care with remifentanil; J.R. Sneyd, A. Craig. Remifentanil anaesthesia and postoperative pain management; S. Schraag. Target controlled infusion for postoperative analgesia; M.C.O.van den Nieuwenhuyzen. Serotonin: its implications in postoperative nausea and vomiting; A. Borgeat.