Interview with Dr. John G.T. Augoustides

Why did you feel that it was important to write a book on this topic? What does Augoustides and Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia Review, 1st Edition add to the field?   

The first edition of Augoustides and Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia Review has been written to facilitate a comprehensive assessment of important knowledge in the perioperative management of patients with cardiac disease. The specialty of cardiac anesthesia has steadily evolved to include dedicated textbooks, specialty journals such as the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, accredited fellowships, examinations in perioperative echocardiography, and more recently board certification in cardiac anesthesia. The ongoing progress in perioperative cardiovascular care has also enhanced the roles of cardiac anesthesiologists in preoperative evaluation, cardiovascular monitoring and imaging as well as postoperative management In light of all these exciting advances, this first edition of Augoustides and Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia Review has been designed to encourage systematic evaluation of knowledge in the perioperative care of cardiac surgical patients.

What is the most exciting aspect of Augoustides and Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia Review, 1st Edition?  What topics are covered?  

The first edition of Augoustides and Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia Review encourages systematic assessment across the continuum of contemporary cardiac anesthesia. The content that is reviewed ranges from the basic sciences to translational medicine, including preoperative assessment and management, cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology, monitoring, cardiac surgical procedures, extracorporeal circulation, as well as postoperative management. The emphasis throughout this first edition is to highlight the scientific basis of perioperative practice in cardiac anesthesia, including society guidelines where relevant. A focus on the important recent advances in the field of cardiac anesthesia has also been crafted to include exciting topics such as novel cardiovascular medications, advanced cardiopulmonary assist devices, transcatheter interventions for structural heart disease, as well as the evolution of the multidisciplinary heart team that typically includes cardiac anesthesiologists.

Who will find the greatest value from this book and why?  

The first edition of Augoustides and Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia Review will appeal to all anesthesiologists taking care of patients with cardiovascular disease, including those practitioners with a specialty interest in cardiac anesthesia. The educational aids in each chapter go beyond the included key points at the beginning of each chapter. Where relevant, graphics and teaching boxes have been included to highlight the important take-home messages for board examinations and patient care. The content of the first edition has also been enhanced with access to both a printed and an electronic format to suit the full spectrum of learning styles. Furthermore, the chapters have been carefully coordinated in an effort to maximize their utility for effective review of the material. The electronic version will also be accessible by a variety of devices to ensure enhanced learner compatibility.

What new ideas, practices, or procedures do you hope your readers take away from Augoustides and Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia Review, 1st Edition?  

The first edition of Augoustides and Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia Review presents focused and comprehensive guidance on topics relevant to certification examinations for adult cardiac anesthesiology practitioners. Written by current leaders in the field, this text summarizes critical, must-know cardiac anesthesia knowledge in a concise, and quick-review format – making this an indispensable review tool for cardiac anesthesiologists and fellows, as well as advanced trainees seeking a cardiac fellowship.

What problems do you hope the future generation of your specialty will be able to solve?  Is there anything else about the book you’d like to say?  

In preparing this first edition, we have been tremendously assisted by the talented team of associate editors and authors who have collaborated so effectively to ensured timely production of their chapters. This first edition of over 1000 review questions will help the reader identify content gaps that require further study as well as reinforce existing knowledge in cardiac anesthesia. Although the cognitive processes of reading questions, weighing options, and considering the background information will often enhance the integration and recall of important information, this review platform is intended to complement rather than replace standard textbooks in the specialty, including the Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia. Along with our authors and associate editors, we trust that this book will assist our readers in enhancing their cognitive expertise in cardiac anesthesia to address the current and future challenges in the specialty.

About the Editor

My name is Dr. John Augoustides. I am a Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. My clinical focus is cardiothoracic anesthesiology and critical care with productive research interests in perioperative echocardiography, microcirculation, and thoracic aortic diseases.  I also serve as Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs, including recruitment, appointments, professional development, and promotions.  I am a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography and the American Heart Association (AHA).  I am a reviewer for leading cardiovascular journals and serve on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia and the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.  I also serve as a Senior Associate Editor for Kaplan’s Cardiac Anesthesia and Associate Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. I am an invited speaker at leading venues worldwide, including the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists and the World Congress of Anesthesiologists. I have published over 300 peer-reviewed papers and am a sentinel reader for scientific literature platforms such as Faculty 1000 and the McMaster Online Rating of Evidence.  I was a member of the writing committee for the 2022 AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease.  I am of Greek descent and grew up in South Africa. I currently live in the Philadelphia area with my family. My hobbies include reading, traveling, and hiking. 

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