Anaesthesia and clinical pharmacology: related disciplines

The disciplines of anaesthesia and clinical pharmacology are related in as much as both have a mutual interest in the safe and conservative use of drugs in man. Anaesthetists have effectively been practising rational therapeutics for many years and they have much to offer academic departments of clinical pharmacology in terms of teaching and research programmes. Similarly, the clinical pharmacologist can usefully contribute to anaesthetic training and research programmes in relation to aspects such as education, precise analytical methods, data-handling and clinical trial techniques. The inter-relationship of the two disciplines can be of mutual advantage and has the potential to provide a stronger basis for sound therapeutic practice.