This edition is carefully panned out to include the recent part of information and knowledge in anesthesia academics that has come up in the last 5 years, and aims at a consolidated review of the knowledge. The editors, Raminder Sehgal and Anjan Trikha, have put in considerable efforts to improve the architecture of the publication, along with the contributors of each chapter. The ICA wishes everyone concerned in the promotion of this masterly publication a great success in his/her career and promises every reader a real thought-provoking package of medical knowledge.

The ICA congratulates the contributors, editors, and publishers for bringing out this yearbook. We look forward to varying presentations and improved knowledge dissemination in future.

Topics related to pharmacology include transdermal drug delivery, peripheral opioid receptors, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in obstetrics and present status of dexmedetomidine. Important areas of anesthesia practice such as nontechnical skills and medicolegal aspects, have also been covered in detail. Neurological complications of anesthesia and controversies regarding perioperative use of beta blockers have also been included in this edition.

The incidence of malignancies in the world is rising and it is but natural that palliative care would become very important in pain practice. The chapter on management of palliative pain gives an overview of treatment modalities available for alleviation of such pain and should immensely benefit those in pain practice. Regional anesthesia in children has been covered by experts in the field. Pain issues in children in the perioperative period is another neglected area especially in the peripheral hospitals and the chapter on assessment of pain in children and management strategies of pain in this age group gives a summary of all the options available for improving pain management in children. The latest on the management of patients with pheochromocytoma, maxillofacial or brain trauma, anaphylaxis and those presenting for ophthalmic surgery, will be of interest to students as well as practicing anesthesiologists. Relevance of ICU-scoring systems and immune modulating diets has been discussed in detail. Lastly, the chapter on positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and lung recruitment in the intensive care would be very informative to the postgraduate students and those venturing into intensive care.

As editors, we narrow down on the topics that we presume would be interesting for the readers. The Journal Scan covers commentary of experts on topics of interest published in reputed journals during the year. Feedbacks, suggestions and criticism regarding the present edition from our readers would be highly appreciated so that further editions could be improved. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all the contributors to this volume and to the reviewers for their constructive criticism. Our special thanks go to the dedicated staff of M/s Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi, India, for their support.