Lesson 1Focused history taking: comorbidities, OSA screening (STOP-Bang), functional status, medication review, fasting statusSystematic preoperative history-taking highlighting common illnesses, sleep apnoea screening with STOP-Bang tool, daily activity levels, current medicines and allergies, and fasting guidelines to spot risks and plan safe anaesthesia.
Key comorbidities and prior anesthetic historySTOP-Bang and other OSA screening toolsAssessing functional capacity and exercise toleranceMedication, allergy, and anticoagulant reviewVerifying fasting status and aspiration riskLesson 2Diabetes management pre-op: glucose targets, perioperative insulin/oral hypoglycemics guidance, blood glucose testing timingPerioperative diabetes care including pre-op blood sugar goals, adjusting insulin and tablets, preventing low sugar, monitoring schedule, and working with surgical and diabetes teams for tricky cases.
Pre-op glucose targets and rationaleAdjusting basal and bolus insulin regimensManaging oral and non-insulin agentsBlood glucose testing timing and frequencyHypoglycemia recognition and preventionLesson 3Documentation checklist: crucial items to record for handover and anesthesia record continuityKey records for safe anaesthesia including baseline checks, risk talks, consent forms, medicine lists, allergies, and handover notes to keep care smooth, traceable, and legally sound.
Core elements of the anesthesia pre-op noteRecording comorbidities and risk scoresDocumenting medications, allergies, and NPO statusStandardized handover and transfer notesLegal and quality assurance considerationsLesson 4Respiratory and cardiovascular exam: auscultation, signs of heart failure, blood pressure control, peripheral perfusionTargeted lung and heart exam covering listening with stethoscope, heart failure signs, blood pressure check, fluid balance, and limb circulation, linking results to anaesthesia risks and improvements.
Respiratory inspection and auscultationIdentifying wheeze, crackles, and obstructionCardiac auscultation and heart failure signsBlood pressure control and volume assessmentPeripheral perfusion and vascular statusLesson 5Identification of anesthesia-related risks: aspiration, difficult airway, hypoventilation, obstructive apnea, perioperative MI/stroke riskSpotting anaesthesia risks like stomach content inhalation, hard intubation, shallow breathing, sleep apnoea episodes, and heart attack or stroke risks, using exams and tools to plan prevention.
Assessing aspiration and full-stomach riskPredicting difficult mask and intubationOSA, hypoventilation, and opioid sensitivityEstimating perioperative MI and stroke riskPlanning risk mitigation strategiesLesson 6ASA physical status classification: criteria, examples, applying ASA class to this patient with obesity, HTN, diabetes, OSAASA patient fitness grading, class criteria, real examples, and using it for patients with weight issues, high blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep apnoea, noting limits and communication value.
ASA classes I–VI and E modifierClinical examples for each ASA classApplying ASA class to obesity and OSALimitations of ASA as a risk predictorUsing ASA in communication and recordsLesson 7Patient communication and informed consent: explaining plan, fasting, CPAP use, postoperative expectationsClear patient talks, joint decisions, and consent process explaining anaesthesia plan, fasting rules, CPAP machine use, post-op pain relief, and recording patient understanding and queries.
Structuring the pre-op anesthesia discussionExplaining fasting, medications, and CPAP useDiscussing risks, benefits, and alternativesSetting postoperative expectations and recoveryAssessing understanding and documenting consentLesson 8Airway evaluation: Mallampati, thyromental distance, neck circumference, neck mobility, dentition, prior airway recordsAirway checks using Mallampati score, chin-to-throat distance, neck size, neck movement, teeth condition, and past records to plan for tough airways and boost surgery safety.
Mallampati and oropharyngeal assessmentThyromental distance and jaw protrusionNeck circumference and mobility evaluationDentition, prosthetics, and loose teethReviewing prior airway and anesthesia recordsLesson 9Selecting relevant preoperative investigations: labs, ECG, HbA1c, pregnancy test if indicated, CXR indicationsChoosing needed pre-op tests like blood work, heart tracing, sugar history, pregnancy test, and chest X-ray based on patient and surgery needs, skipping unneeded ones safely.
Principles of selective test orderingBaseline labs and renal function testsECG and cardiac testing indicationsHbA1c and diabetes optimization rolePregnancy tests and chest imaging criteria
