Essentials of Anesthesia for High-Risk Patients: Perioperative Management of Cardiac, Pulmonary, Renal, Obstetric and Pediatric Cases

High-risk surgical patients demand more than memorized protocols.
They require a clear understanding of how disease alters physiology, how anesthesia interacts with that physiology, and how clinical decisions affect risk throughout the perioperative period. Essentials of Anesthesia for High-Risk Patients presents a practitioner-focused, mechanism-first framework for approaching complex cases with greater structure and clinical clarity.
The book examines five interconnected high-acuity populations: patients with cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease, high-risk obstetric conditions, and pediatric surgical or congenital conditions. It also brings these areas together through focused coverage of airway management, complication recognition, and postoperative critical care.
Each chapter begins with a realistic clinical scenario, develops the underlying physiology, and then turns to practical perioperative management. The scenario is revisited as the discussion progresses, helping readers connect mechanism, assessment, planning, and response. Recurring High-Risk Pearl, Red Flag Alert, Mechanism Spotlight, and Special Population Note features highlight essential concepts and clinically important distinctions.
Written for anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, anesthesia residents, and perioperative physicians, this reference supports systematic reasoning before, during, and after surgery. It is designed for readers who want to strengthen their understanding of complex comorbidity, anticipate perioperative instability, recognize important warning signs, and organize care around the physiology driving each patient's risk.