Lesson 1Focused history taking: comorbidities, OSA screening (STOP-Bang), functional status, medication review, fasting statusExplores systematic preoperative history, stressing comorbidities, OSA screening tools like STOP-Bang, functional capacity, medication and allergy checks, and fasting status to spot changeable risks and plan anesthesia and patient preparation in Namibian settings.
Key comorbidities and past anesthesia 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 timingOutlines perioperative diabetes care, covering pre-op glucose goals, timing and changes to insulin and oral drugs, preventing low blood sugar, monitoring plans, and working with surgical and endocrine teams for tricky cases in Namibian hospitals.
Pre-op glucose targets and reasonsAdjusting basal and bolus insulin plansManaging oral and non-insulin drugsBlood glucose testing timing and frequencyHypoglycemia recognition and preventionLesson 3Documentation checklist: crucial items to record for handover and anesthesia record continuityLists key documentation for safe anesthesia, including initial checks, risk talks, consent checks, medication and allergy lists, and handover notes to ensure ongoing care, tracking, and legal safety in Namibian practice.
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 perfusionDescribes targeted respiratory and heart exams, covering inspection, listening, heart failure signs, blood pressure checks, fluid status, and limb blood flow, connecting findings to anesthesia risks and preparation in Namibian contexts.
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 riskExamines spotting anesthesia risks like aspiration, hard airways, low breathing, OSA issues, and heart or brain events around surgery, using clinical signs and tools to plan risk reduction in Namibian facilities.
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, OSAReviews ASA physical status categories, rules for each, common examples, and use for patients with obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and OSA, stressing steady use, limits, and role in risk talks in Namibia.
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 expectationsEmphasizes clear patient talks, joint decisions, and informed consent, covering anesthesia plans, fasting, CPAP use, post-op pain control, and noting understanding and questions in Namibian patient care.
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 recordsCovers organized airway checks using Mallampati, thyromental distance, neck movement, teeth, and past records, linking to hard airway plans and notes for safer surgery in Namibian hospitals.
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 indicationsGuides choosing pre-op tests based on patient risks and procedures, including blood work, ECG, HbA1c, pregnancy tests, and chest X-rays, skipping unneeded ones while meeting safety and rules in Namibia.
Principles of selective test orderingBaseline labs and renal function testsECG and cardiac testing indicationsHbA1c and diabetes optimization rolePregnancy tests and chest imaging criteria
