Anesthesiology Journal's podcast Featured Author Podcast: Anesthesia Type in Cancer Surgery
Dec 17, 2025
Join Elliott Bennett-Guerrero, a seasoned anesthesiology professor and clinical researcher, alongside Juan P. Cata, an expert in perioperative oncology. They delve into the GA CARES trial, revealing intriguing insights about anesthesia types and their impact on cancer surgery outcomes. Key discussions include the surprising lack of overall survival benefit with propofol, the comparison of volatile agents, and the critical questions remaining in perioperative oncology. Their analysis combines rigorous research with clinical implications, promising to reshape future practices.
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Preclinical Data Drove Clinical Trials
- Preclinical studies and observational data suggested volatile anesthetics might worsen cancer outcomes compared with propofol.
- These findings motivated calls for randomized trials to test if anesthetic type affects long-term cancer survival.
Use Pragmatic Design And Registry Linkage
- Design pragmatic trials with broad eligibility and real-world care to test surgical anesthesia questions.
- Use registries and national death indices to capture long-term outcomes efficiently.
Large Trial Completed Without External Funding
- GA CARES enrolled over 1,800 patients across five New York centers without external funding.
- Investigators completed the trial by leveraging motivated collaborators and institutional registries.