Racial and Ethnic Disparity in the Administration of General Anesthesia.

Abstract

Healthcare disparities continue to affect communities in the United States that are racially and ethnically diverse, disabled, and economically disadvantaged, even though medical and technological advancements have made great strides in these areas. Disparities in health outcomes and difficulties obtaining care for both acute and chronic illnesses are more common among these populations when compared to the overall population. Disparities in anesthesia care delivery have been documented in multiple studies, and they are based on factors such as patients' racial/ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, ability to communicate in English, and accessibility to health insurance. Despite this, there are limited reports in academic journals on the differences in general anesthesia. This article provides a critical review of literature on racial and ethnic disparities in the use of general anesthesia for adults having obstetric, general, or pediatric surgeries, as well as for their preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative anesthesia care.