Opioids in Anaesthesia

Part 1 Scientific basis: biochemistry of the oploid peptides; opioid peptides and their receptors; interaction between adrenergic and opiod pathways; functional coupling among opioid receptor types; cellular and subcellular actions of opioids in the heart; spinal opioid analgesia; characterization of acute tolerance in an animal model. Part 2 Clinical applications: clinical perspectives on opioid anaesthesia; opioids and the cardiac patient; opioids in obstretrics; analgesia-anaesthesia; narcotics in neuroanaesthesia; opioids and outcome in peripheral vascular surgery; opioids and outcome in pediatric surgery; opioids and outcome in paediatric surgery; opioids and same-day surgery; monitoring the adequacy of opioid anesthesia; post-operative myocardial ischemia; mechanisms and therapies; opioids for monitored anaesthesia care; palliative therapy for cancer; the role of transdermal fentanyl in the management of cancer pain. Part 3 Delivery methods; opioid administration by continuous infusion; transmucosal narcotic delivery; transdermal fentanyl; an overview of clinical progress; patient-controlled analgesia; the use of on-demand opioids in the management of acute pain. Part 4 Issues: opiate addiction in anaesthesiologists; impairment and disability; the Yale department of anaesthesiology programme; legal exposure and opioid anaesthesia.