Closing the loop: how near is automated anesthesia?

Technologic advances now make automated anesthesia delivery systems theoretically possible; clinical implementation, however, awaits development and refinement in three areas: (1) adjunctive monitoring, which needs to be extremely sophisticated; (2) automated data collection, which will obviate manual record keeping; (3) automated therapeutic intervention, which will control drug, fluid, and gas administration. Reduced health care costs and increased safety are the primary goals; there is also the possibility, however, of increased costs and new hazards.