Advances in technology and pharmacology continue to change techniques for anesthesia. So-called "fast-track" anesthesia has led to the development of new anesthetic agents and changes in anesthetic practice, including the increased use of regional anesthesia, techniques involving continuous plexus catheters to improve postoperative analgesia, and total intravenous anesthesia. Technological advances now provide additional options for airway management when a difficult airway is encountered. Advances have also produced additional intraoperative monitoring through the use of depth-of-anesthesia monitors and transesophageal echocardiography. Future areas of development are likely to include target-controlled infusion pumps as well as techniques and medi-cations that improve fast-track anesthesia safely.