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Anesthetic practice in Japan: past, present, and future
Michiaki Yamakage1, Akiyoshi Namiki
1Department of Anesthesiology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South 1, West 16, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8543, Japan.
Journal of Anesthesia
|August 8, 2007
Summary
Anesthetic advancements now allow surgery for older patients. Japan is adopting new anesthetic agents like remifentanil and sugammadex, improving patient care and safety.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Significant advancements in anesthetic agents and monitoring over the past 20 years.
- Improved medical devices and systems enable surgery for elderly patients, removing age as a contraindication.
- Japan's adoption of modern anesthetic agents has lagged behind other developed nations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the evolution of anesthesia over the last two decades.
- To discuss potential future trends in anesthesia within Japan.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent developments in anesthetic agents and monitoring.
- Analysis of the introduction and availability of specific drugs like sevoflurane, remifentanil, rocuronium, and sugammadex in Japan.
- Discussion of clinical trial progress for new anesthetic reversal agents.
Main Results:
- Sevoflurane is approved, but Japan trails in adopting other key anesthetic agents.
- Ultrashort-acting opioid analgesic remifentanil is now available in Japan.
- Rocuronium, a fast-onset neuromuscular blocking agent, is nearing approval.
- Sugammadex, a selective reversal agent, has completed phase III clinical trials globally, including Japan.
Conclusions:
- Japan is making progress in adopting advanced anesthetic agents and technologies.
- The availability of remifentanil, rocuronium, and sugammadex is expected to enhance anesthetic care and patient outcomes in Japan.
- Future anesthesia practices in Japan will likely align more closely with international standards.
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