TY - JOUR
T1 - The definition and aims of Anesthesia
T2 - a Delphi-based consensus statement
AU - Berger-Estilita, Joana
AU - Meco, Basak Ceyda
AU - DeRobertis, Edoardo
AU - Buhre, Wolfgang
AU - Kirkegard, Peter
AU - Jakobsen, Karina
AU - Soehle, Martin
AU - Bilotta, Federico
AU - von Dincklage, Falk
AU - Matot, Idit
AU - Weiss, Yotam
AU - Bonhomme, Vincent
AU - Ti, Lian Kah
AU - Rimstad, Ivan
AU - Shelton, Clifford
AU - Kozlowski, Bartosz
AU - Saxena, Sarah
AU - McConnell, Paul
AU - Hormis, Anil
AU - Zeidan, Ahed
AU - Mulier, Jan
AU - Evered, Lisbeth
AU - Aceto, Paola
AU - Shmukler, Daniel
AU - Forget, Patrice
AU - Simoes, Claudia Marquez
AU - Falcao, Luiz Fernando
AU - Wittman, Maria
AU - Gönegur, Ismail
AU - Radtke, Finn Michael
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of Société Française d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation (SFAR). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
PY - 2026/1
Y1 - 2026/1
N2 - Background: Anaesthesia is crucial in ensuring patient comfort and safety during surgical procedures by inducing a temporary loss of sensation, memory, and consciousness. However, its multifaceted nature presents challenges in defining its aims and expected outcomes. This study aimed to establish a consensus on anaesthesia's definition and core aims using a structured Delphi process. Methods: We conducted a modified three-round eDelphi method involving 23 international experts. Participants engaged in iterative online surveys to refine a consensus definition and aims. Consensus was predefined as achieving ≥80% agreement. The process included external expert reviews to enhance objectivity and validity. Statistical analyses included median, interquartile range (IQR), and agreement percentages. Results: The Delphi process resulted in consensus on 49 aims and a refined definition of anaesthesia. The final definition emphasises safe, effective, individualised, patient-centred, and empathetic care, ensuring optimal surgical conditions while enhancing patient outcomes. Key aims included preoperative optimisation, stress and pain reduction, organ function preservation, prompt emergence and recovery, interdisciplinary teamwork, continuous outcome assessment, and sustainability in anaesthesia practices. The final agreement rate for the updated definition was 82.6% (median: 10, IQR: 9–10). Additionally, environmental sustainability was recognised as an integral aim. Conclusion: The consensus developed in this study provides a structured framework for defining anaesthesia’s objectives, improving patient-centred care, guiding clinical practice, and fostering research. By incorporating sustainability and long-term patient outcomes, the consensus supports the evolution of precision anaesthesia. Future research will validate these defined aims in various perioperative settings and refine the consensus based on real-world applications.
AB - Background: Anaesthesia is crucial in ensuring patient comfort and safety during surgical procedures by inducing a temporary loss of sensation, memory, and consciousness. However, its multifaceted nature presents challenges in defining its aims and expected outcomes. This study aimed to establish a consensus on anaesthesia's definition and core aims using a structured Delphi process. Methods: We conducted a modified three-round eDelphi method involving 23 international experts. Participants engaged in iterative online surveys to refine a consensus definition and aims. Consensus was predefined as achieving ≥80% agreement. The process included external expert reviews to enhance objectivity and validity. Statistical analyses included median, interquartile range (IQR), and agreement percentages. Results: The Delphi process resulted in consensus on 49 aims and a refined definition of anaesthesia. The final definition emphasises safe, effective, individualised, patient-centred, and empathetic care, ensuring optimal surgical conditions while enhancing patient outcomes. Key aims included preoperative optimisation, stress and pain reduction, organ function preservation, prompt emergence and recovery, interdisciplinary teamwork, continuous outcome assessment, and sustainability in anaesthesia practices. The final agreement rate for the updated definition was 82.6% (median: 10, IQR: 9–10). Additionally, environmental sustainability was recognised as an integral aim. Conclusion: The consensus developed in this study provides a structured framework for defining anaesthesia’s objectives, improving patient-centred care, guiding clinical practice, and fostering research. By incorporating sustainability and long-term patient outcomes, the consensus supports the evolution of precision anaesthesia. Future research will validate these defined aims in various perioperative settings and refine the consensus based on real-world applications.
KW - Anesthesia definition
KW - Delphi consensus
KW - Patient-centred care
KW - Perioperative outcomes
KW - Precision anesthesia
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105020031426
U2 - 10.1016/j.accpm.2025.101614
DO - 10.1016/j.accpm.2025.101614
M3 - Article
C2 - 41022202
AN - SCOPUS:105020031426
SN - 2352-5568
VL - 45
JO - Anaesthesia Critical Care and Pain Medicine
JF - Anaesthesia Critical Care and Pain Medicine
IS - 1
M1 - 101614
ER -