Miller’s Anesthesia, 10th Edition

By: Michael A. Gropper, MD, PhD; Neal H. Cohen, MD, MPH, MS; Lars I. Eriksson, MD; Lee A. Fleisher, MD; Sean Johnson-Akeju, MD; Kate Leslie, MD

ISBN: 9780323935920

Publication Date: September 2, 2024

Reviewer: Joshua E. Insler, MD (Yale School of Medicine)

Description

This is the quintessential book for learning the science and practice of anesthesiology and has for years been the standard bearer for resident house staff and attending anesthesiologists alike. Now in its tenth edition (its nineth edition was published in 2019), this already-comprehensive book provides an expanded review of the basic science and physiologic basis of anesthetic delivery, improved chapters on adult and pediatric subspecialty management and considerations, and updated chapters on emerging technologies and innovations in perioperative care. The tenth edition continues to excel in balancing foundational principles with cutting-edge advancements, making it an indispensable resource for both trainees and experienced professionals alike.

Purpose

As the number of texts within the specialty has significantly grown, many have become condensed and more concise, yet this book’s purpose to maintain a comprehensive text provided a reliable resource for those seeking in-depth knowledge across the entire scope of anesthesiology. This approach ensures that the book remains a cornerstone text, providing unmatched breadth and detail in areas ranging from basic science to clinical subspecialty practice. Especially as the field continues to see technological advances and an increasingly multidisciplinary scope of practice, the book adapts to meet the needs of modern anesthesiologists by balancing tradition with innovation. Its objectives to provide a deep understanding of the multifaceted scientific and clinical principles underlying anesthetic practice remain firmly intact–and with its notably increasing international focus, the book now affords a uniquely diverse perspective on the specialty. The text supersedes what readers of prior editions have come to expect from this expansive text.

Audience

This book is unique in that it is targeted to all stages of experience within the realm of anesthesiology: it provides a comprehensive basis of understanding for new residents and trainees, provides depth within subspecialty practice for experienced attending anesthesiologists with significant experience, and ultimately does well meeting the needs of its intended audience. Its authors and contributors are among the most prominent anesthesiologists and anesthesiology-intensivists worldwide based on institutional affiliation, research output, credentials, and scholarly publications.

Features

This book is an expansive resource that explores foundational and contemporary aspects of the science and practice of anesthesiology. Its coverage spans essential basic science principles, such as molecular pharmacology and physiology, to practical applications in subspecialty care, including cardiovascular, pediatric, and neuroanesthesia, while simultaneously providing context with respect to emerging technologies and even global considerations for the practice of the field. Furthermore, the book addresses the perioperative management of complex patients, emphasizing multidisciplinary approaches and evidence-based practices. The clarity of writing and organization in each chapter of this edition marks a significant improvement compared to the previous edition. Chapters now follow a more cohesive and logical progression, ensuring a smooth transition between foundational concepts and their clinical applications. This deliberate structuring enhances the book’s usability, particularly for early-career trainees seeking a comprehensive understanding of the principles underlying the science of basic anesthesiology, as well as those unique considerations within each subspecialty of the field. When directly compared to the previous edition, it contains several notable improvements: particular focus on emerging technologies, especially the rapidly growing field of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and its various clinical applications in adults and pediatric patients, new chapters and pointed updates addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anesthetic practices, including protocols for infection prevention and airway management in high-risk patients both in the operating room (OR) and intensive care unit (ICU) settings, expanded chapters regarding pediatric anesthesiology, including more detailed exploration of pediatric-specific anesthetic considerations, advancements in congenital cardiac anesthesia, and principles of neonatal care, and enhanced sections on international practices and challenges in anesthesia, offering a more comprehensive understanding of global health disparities in perioperative care. Shortcomings have always included its size and its sometimes-dense text, which can be intimidating to early-career residents, trainees, and learners. Cost has also long been an issue for the book, which can certainly exist as a barrier to accessibility for many.

Assessment

Overall, this tenth edition of the book is a significant improvement and notably contribution to the series which has long been the gold standard in learning, understanding, and applying the science and practice of anesthesiology to direct patient care. Its comprehensive reviews of basic science, general anesthetic principles, and management considerations for subspecialty practice make it the most complete textbook available to residents, trainees, and experienced anesthesiologists alike. While texts such as Morgan and Mikhail’s Clinical Anesthesiology 7th Edition, Butterworth et al.

(McGraw Hill, 2020), Barash, Cullen, and Stoelting’s Clinical Anesthesia 9th Edition, Cullen et al. (LWW, 2024), and even Yao & Artusio’s Anesthesiology: Problem-Oriented Patient Management, 9th Edition, Yao et al. (LWW, 2020) exist as alternatives, what they provide in shorter length and more concise chapters renders them incomplete resources without the necessary context and clinical applicability for early-stage trainees seeking to have strong foundational knowledge of the field. It is clear that the updated version justifies replacing the previous edition.

©Doody’s Review Service, 2025, Joshua E. Insler, MD (Yale School of Medicine)

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