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When the team of physicians-cardiologist, anesthesiologist and surgeon-who are to attend a patient during a cardiac operation study the patient together in preoperative evaluation, they are better able to anticipate emergencies that might arise during the procedure and to deal with them without loss of time for discussion. The principal problems of the anesthesiologist during operation are maintenance of adequate ventilation and oxygenation, maintenance of the lightest level of anesthesia possible (the minimum degree of poisoning), and maintenance of adequate circulation. The cardiologist must maintain constant observation of the heart rate and rhythm and be alert for early signs of myocardial oxygen deficiency.

The Anesthesia Department at the Los Angeles County Hospital established a Nerve Block Clinic for the purpose of alleviating pain and providing helpful information for diagnosis in a number of diseases. During the first year of operation of this Nerve Block Clinic, over one thousand injections were made. The patients who received the injections were referred to the Nerve Block Clinic by staff members who had been apprised of the services offered.