Foreword

Foreword: "With the increasing emphasis on patient-oriented outcomes and delivery of cost-effective care, there has been a great deal of interest in the use of innovative methods to control acute postoperative pain. These include both novel medication management and the use of regional anesthetics. There is increasing evidence to suggest that these techniques can lead to earlier discharge with greater patient satisfaction related to control of pain symptoms. However, these are not without risks and costs. In this issue of Anesthesiology Clinics, the guest editors have solicited an outstanding collection of articles that highlight many of these issues including complications and the medical legal implications, enumeration of these techniques outside of the hospital, and the economic and practice management implications. In the clinical setting, the request to perform these techniques frequently comes from outside of the department and understanding these issues is critical. In the academic setting, our residents are excited to learn these techniques and to understand both the risks and the benefits."