Anesthesia Research Titles for Residents
Residents should focus on feasible, clinically relevant research projects that can be completed within training timelines while addressing current gaps in anesthesia practice. Based on systematic analysis of anesthesia research priorities and evidence gaps, the following categories represent high-yield research opportunities 1.
Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management
Regional anesthesia represents a critical area with significant evidence gaps, as this subspecialty demonstrates the lowest levels of high-quality evidence compared to other anesthesia domains 1. Specific research titles include:
Comparative effectiveness of erector spinae plane block versus thoracic epidural analgesia for postoperative pain control in thoracic surgery patients - This addresses the emerging fascial plane blocks that lack robust comparative data against established techniques 2, 3
Ultrasound-guided transversus thoracic muscle plane block versus standard care for pain management after cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial - Fills the gap in regional techniques for cardiac surgery beyond thoracic epidural 2
Neuraxial anesthesia versus general anesthesia for total hip arthroplasty: impact on postoperative nausea, vomiting, and recovery room stay - Builds on existing registry data showing differences in outcomes but requiring prospective validation 4
Paravertebral blocks versus fascial plane blocks for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a cost-effectiveness analysis - Addresses the active debate regarding optimal analgesia for minimally invasive thoracic procedures 3
Perioperative Monitoring and Safety
Monitoring practices show substantial variation and represent opportunities for quality improvement research 1:
Implementation of continuous capnography monitoring during moderate procedural sedation: impact on respiratory adverse events - The American Society of Anesthesiologists guidelines discuss capnography but evidence remains limited for routine sedation 1
Dedicated patient monitoring personnel versus standard care during procedural sedation: a quality improvement study - Addresses the recommendation for dedicated monitoring but lacks robust outcome data 1
Validation of the MACOCHA score for predicting difficult intubation in the operating room setting - This score was developed for ICU patients and requires validation in surgical populations 5
Anesthesia Technique Selection and Outcomes
The choice between anesthetic techniques significantly impacts patient outcomes but evidence remains inconsistent 6, 7, 4:
Regional versus general anesthesia for lumbar spine surgery: impact on opioid consumption and patient satisfaction at 6 weeks - Extends existing 48-hour data to longer-term outcomes 6
Propofol versus volatile anesthetics for Watchman left atrial appendage closure: emergence times and neurological assessment feasibility - Addresses the equipoise between techniques for procedures requiring rapid neurological assessment 8
Spinal anesthesia versus general anesthesia for orthopedic procedures in high-risk patients: recovery profiles and 30-day outcomes - Newer agents like remimazolam require comparison with regional techniques 7
Enhanced Recovery and Opioid-Sparing Strategies
Enhanced recovery protocols represent a major focus but implementation varies widely 1:
Multimodal analgesia protocol implementation for elective cesarean section: barriers and facilitators to adoption - The PROSPECT guidelines provide recommendations but implementation science is lacking 1
Opioid-free anesthesia for ambulatory surgery: feasibility and patient-reported outcomes - Addresses the push toward opioid-sparing techniques with patient-centered outcomes 7
Ketamine as an adjunct to neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean section: impact on postoperative pain and opioid consumption - Fills gaps in multimodal approaches for obstetric anesthesia 1
Pandemic and Crisis Preparedness
COVID-19 revealed significant gaps in evidence-based guidance for anesthesia practice during respiratory pandemics 1:
Regional anesthesia utilization during respiratory pandemics: a before-and-after study of practice patterns - Only low-quality evidence exists regarding regional anesthesia during viral outbreaks 1
Personal protective equipment compliance during neuraxial procedures: observational study and intervention development - PPE recommendations lack specific evidence for regional anesthesia 1
Development and validation of a clinical decision tool for anesthesia technique selection in patients with active respiratory infections - Current guidance relies on expert opinion rather than evidence 1
Quality Improvement and Guideline Implementation
Anesthesia guidelines frequently lack high-quality supporting evidence, creating opportunities for implementation research 1:
Audit of anesthesia practice guideline adherence: identifying barriers to evidence-based care - Only 13.7% of recent anesthesia guidelines meet high-quality standards 1, 5
Development of a quality improvement dashboard for regional anesthesia complications: a single-center pilot study - Quality improvement processes are recommended but specific metrics are undefined 1
Comparative analysis of anesthesia clinical practice guideline quality using AGREE II: identifying areas for improvement - Systematic evaluation revealed significant deficiencies in guideline development rigor 1
Subspecialty-Specific Research
Certain subspecialties demonstrate particularly low evidence levels and require focused research 1:
Neuroanesthesia for carotid body tumor resection: general versus local anesthesia with conscious sedation outcomes - Both techniques are considered equally safe but lack comparative outcome data 9
Anesthetic management strategies for patients with catecholamine-secreting paragangliomas: a case series analysis - Rare conditions require descriptive studies before comparative trials 9
Pediatric regional anesthesia complications: a multicenter registry study - Pediatric anesthesia shows evidence gaps compared to adult practice 1
Practical Considerations for Resident Research
Common pitfalls to avoid: Selecting overly ambitious projects requiring multi-year follow-up, choosing topics with saturated literature, or failing to secure adequate mentorship and institutional support 1. Residents should prioritize: single-center quality improvement projects, retrospective registry analyses, survey studies of practice patterns, or small prospective trials with short-term outcomes that can be completed within 1-2 years 1.