Airway management is a vital component of administering anesthesia, allowing for the exchange of gases between the patient and the surrounding atmosphere. Difficult or unsuccessful management of the airway is a significant source of anesthesia-related morbidity and mortality [1]. As such, it is important for anesthesia providers to be adept at all aspects of managing the airway. A thorough understanding of the pertinent anatomy and physiology, the ability to use clinical evaluation to identify potential difficulties, and a mastery of interventional techniques and procedures are crucial to safe and effective airway management. This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of the elements related to effective airway management.

Selection of the anesthetic technique to be employed during a procedure begins during the preoperative evaluation with consideration of factors such as the patient’s comorbidities and preferences and the type of procedure to be performed. Oftentimes, general anesthesia is not necessary and the procedure can be performed under a lesser depth of sedation. Procedural sedation is a technique that allows the patient to tolerate the discomfort of a procedure while still maintaining cardiorespiratory function. In order to accomplish this, the anesthesia provider administers sedative, dissociative, and/or analgesic agents alone or in combination [1].

We present an overview of the role, benefits, and drawbacks of theory in scientific research, particularly in the social and behavioral sciences. We discuss what theory is and what it is not. We also focus on some key elements of theory such as its ability to explain phenomena at multiple parallel levels of analysis. Evolutionary theory is offered as an example that illustrates the importance of conceptual integration across different disciplines. We further describe the key characteristics of good theories, such as parsimony, depth, breadth, and coherence (both internal and external), and we encourage the use of “coherence stress-tests” to help refine theory. We then discuss 4 advantages and 10 disadvantages of using theory in social and behavioral science research. Finally, we suggest conceptual tools and provide a list of recommendations for theory-driven research. We hope this chapter will help in the complex pursuit of improving research practices in the social and behavioral sciences.

Working in applied settings presents unique challenges and complexities with respect to research. Researchers have often commented on the scientist–practitioner divide, but there is a lack of information about the specific challenges and constraints of doing applied work that may contribute to this divide. As a group of applied social and behavioral scientists, we discuss what individuals should know, understand, and expect regarding the work practitioners conduct in applied settings. We describe the challenges of applied work as they relate to some topics covered earlier in this volume and identify other unique aspects of applied work. We conclude by discussing how an individual can approach deciding whether applied work is a fit with one’s interests.

Preoperatively, the patient will transition from different depths of anesthesia, including the levels of sedation, to general anesthesia (GA). Sedation is a continuum of symptoms that range from minimal symptoms of anxiolysis to symptoms of moderate and deep sedation. Moderate sedation is defined by the patient remaining asleep, but being easily arousable. Deep sedation is achieved when the patient is only arousable to painful stimulation. GA refers to medically induced loss of consciousness with concurrent loss of protective reflexes and skeletal muscle relaxation. GA is most commonly achieved via induction with intravenous sedatives and analgesics, followed by maintenance of volatile anesthetics [1]. Table 9.1 lists the depths of anesthesia and associated characteristics.