Anesthetics and Ventilatory Drive

Adverse respiratory effects of anesthetics are associated with some of the most serious negative outcomes in anesthesia (1). Regardless of the anesthetics or analgesic strategies employed, there is a well-documented risk for and occurrence of post-operative adverse respiratory events in 0.1–1.0% of surgical patients. Clinicians need useful information concerning respiratory drive and drug effects in order to administer medications in a rational manner and minimize the frequency with which adverse outcomes occur. This presentation will summarize current understanding of: 1) respiratory drive and rhythm generation, 2) assessing the effects of drugs on respiratory drive, 3) current knowledge concerning the effects of drugs on respiratory drive.