Anaesthesia technician course

Lesson 1 • Anatomy Relevant to Anaesthesia

Covers airway, cardiovascular, and neurological anatomy critical for safe anaesthesia delivery. Provides the structural knowledge base for all subsequent clinical skills.

Lesson 2 • Patient Assessment and Risk Stratification

Teaches pre-anaesthetic evaluation including history, physical status classification, and risk scoring. Enables technicians to prepare appropriately for each patient's needs.

Lesson 3 • Physiology of Anaesthesia

Examines how anaesthetic agents alter respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological function. Links physiological responses to monitoring priorities in the operating room.

Lesson 1 • Pre-Use Equipment Checks

Teaches systematic pre-anaesthetic machine checks following standardized protocols. Ensures technicians can identify faults before patient exposure.

Lesson 2 • Airway Management Devices

Covers selection, preparation, and maintenance of airway devices from basic masks to advanced supraglottic airways. Connects device choice to patient anatomy and procedure type.

Lesson 3 • Anaesthesia Machine Components

Identifies all components of the anaesthesia workstation including gas supplies, vaporizers, and breathing circuits. Builds foundational equipment literacy for safe clinical use.

Lesson 4 • Monitoring Equipment Setup

Instructs on setting up and calibrating patient monitoring devices used throughout anaesthesia. Links accurate monitoring setup to early detection of adverse events.

Lesson 1 • Hand Hygiene and Gowning

Teaches surgical hand scrub, alcohol rub technique, and correct gowning and gloving procedures. Directly reduces healthcare-associated infection risk in the operating room.

Lesson 2 • Decontamination of Anaesthesia Equipment

Covers cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of reusable anaesthesia equipment between cases. Connects decontamination levels to infection risk and equipment compatibility.

Lesson 3 • Infection Control in Drug Preparation

Addresses aseptic drug drawing, labeling, and safe handling of syringes and vials. Prevents medication contamination and cross-infection during anaesthesia drug preparation.

Lesson 1 • Fluid Therapy Preparation

Covers selection, priming, and administration of IV fluids and blood products in the perioperative period. Links fluid management to haemodynamic monitoring and patient status.

Lesson 2 • Drug Calculation and Dosing

Covers weight-based dosing, concentration calculations, and infusion rate mathematics for anaesthetic drugs. Prevents medication errors through systematic calculation methods.

Lesson 3 • Preparation of Anaesthetic Drugs

Instructs on drawing up, diluting, and labeling induction agents, opioids, and muscle relaxants. Connects aseptic technique from Chapter 3 to drug preparation workflows.

Lesson 1 • Endotracheal Intubation Assistance

Covers the technician's role in preparing for and assisting direct and video laryngoscopy intubation. Reinforces equipment preparation and Sellick maneuver application.

Lesson 2 • Difficult Airway Management Support

Prepares technicians to assist with difficult airway algorithms including awake intubation and surgical airway backup. Builds readiness for high-stakes airway emergencies.

Lesson 3 • Supraglottic Airway Insertion

Instructs on correct sizing, insertion, and confirmation of supraglottic airway devices. Connects device selection to patient weight, procedure duration, and aspiration risk.

Lesson 4 • Bag-Mask Ventilation

Develops proficiency in one- and two-person bag-mask ventilation with correct seal and tidal volume delivery. Critical bridge skill between apnea and definitive airway placement.

Lesson 1 • Advanced Haemodynamic Monitoring

Introduces arterial lines, central venous pressure, and cardiac output monitoring for high-risk cases. Builds on standard monitoring to support complex surgical and critical patients.

Lesson 2 • Depth of Anaesthesia Monitoring

Covers processed EEG monitors and clinical signs used to assess anaesthetic depth. Prevents awareness under anaesthesia and guides agent titration.

Lesson 3 • Standard Intraoperative Monitoring

Establishes minimum monitoring standards including ECG, SpO2, NIBP, and capnography during anaesthesia. Connects each parameter to specific physiological risks during surgery.

Lesson 4 • Recognizing and Responding to Adverse Events

Teaches recognition of hypoxia, hypotension, bronchospasm, and anaphylaxis during anaesthesia. Prepares technicians to initiate immediate support while alerting the anaesthetist.

Lesson 1 • Patient Transfer and Handover

Covers safe patient transfer from the operating table to the recovery trolley and structured handover communication. Prevents information loss and patient injury during transition.

Lesson 2 • Common Post-Anaesthesia Complications

Identifies and manages nausea, vomiting, shivering, delayed emergence, and respiratory complications in recovery. Prepares technicians to escalate appropriately when complications arise.

Lesson 3 • Post-Anaesthesia Monitoring

Establishes monitoring protocols for airway, breathing, circulation, and consciousness in the recovery room. Builds on intraoperative monitoring skills applied to the emerging patient.

Lesson 1 • Malignant Hyperthermia Response

Covers recognition, immediate management, and dantrolene preparation for malignant hyperthermia. Emphasizes speed of response and technician-specific roles in the crisis protocol.

Lesson 2 • Anaphylaxis and Local Anaesthetic Toxicity

Teaches recognition and emergency management of severe anaphylaxis and local anaesthetic systemic toxicity. Connects drug preparation knowledge to prevention and treatment protocols.

Lesson 3 • Crisis Resource Management Principles

Introduces cognitive aids, closed-loop communication, and leadership roles during anaesthesia emergencies. Develops the non-technical skills that determine team performance in crises.

Lesson 4 • Perioperative Cardiac Arrest Management

Applies advanced life support principles to cardiac arrest occurring during anaesthesia. Addresses unique causes and modifications to standard resuscitation in the operative setting.