A Paradigm Shift in Airway and Pain Management—3rd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

The editors are grateful to the many researchers who contributed to the success of the first edition (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/378LD7C5OV) and the second edition (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/EBT02KWQFA) of this Special Issue. Therefore, we are very pleased to announce the third edition of our Special Issue.

Over the last several decades, notable advances have been made in the field of anesthesiology, particularly regarding the means and devices used in airway management and the widespread application of ultrasound in pain management. Airway management remains central to anesthesiologists. With the continuous evolution of technology, strategies for handling the difficult airway—such as the utilization of video intubating stylets—need to be adjusted over time in accordance with current trends.

Regarding pain management, there is still an unmet need despite the recent progress in ultrasound-guided procedures. A motor-sparing goal will remain the mainstay in both acute and chronic pain scenarios due to its key role in enhancing recovery after surgery and clinic-based practice, respectively. Acute pain management is inherently an extension of regional anesthesia, which can be viewed as an advanced modality of perioperative analgesia starting in the pre-surgical period. The concept of motor-sparing should also be rooted in peripheral nerve block-based regional anesthesia to facilitate motor recovery as early as possible.

As regenerative medicine advances in this expanded ultrasound era, future research in chronic pain management should focus on transitioning from fluoroscopy guidance (with or without ultrasound assistance) to exclusively ultrasound guidance for most pain management procedures, as well as the extensive application of regenerative therapies in pain medicine. On the other hand, pain-related nerve ablation by joint denervation and regression by transarterial embolization have become increasingly popular among pain practitioners. Furthermore, emerging non-invasive interventions, specifically high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, have demonstrated potential efficacy in the alleviation of central post-stroke pain and other chronic pain scenarios.

This Special Issue aims to present a paradigm shift in airway and pain management using new data. We welcome submissions of Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Technical Note/Reports, Study Protocols and Reviews that will stimulate continuing efforts to develop better choices for optimal patient care.

Dr. Jui An Lin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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