Anesthesia course

Lesson 1 • Anatomy Relevant to Anaesthesia

Covers airway, vascular, and neuraxial anatomy critical for procedural access. Builds the spatial knowledge needed for all subsequent clinical techniques.

Lesson 2 • Pharmacology of Anaesthetic Agents

Introduces drug classes used in anaesthesia, including inhalational agents, intravenous hypnotics, and adjuncts. Links pharmacokinetics to clinical dosing decisions.

Lesson 3 • Physiology of Anaesthesia

Examines cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological responses to anaesthetic agents. Provides the mechanistic basis for monitoring and managing patient stability.

Lesson 1 • Ventilator Modes and Settings

Explains volume-controlled, pressure-controlled, and lung-protective ventilation strategies. Connects ventilator settings to respiratory physiology established in Chapter 1.

Lesson 2 • The Anaesthesia Workstation

Explains the components and gas delivery pathways of the modern anaesthesia machine. Connects equipment function to patient safety during gas administration.

Lesson 3 • Airway Management Devices

Surveys masks, supraglottic airways, and endotracheal tubes used to secure the airway. Prepares students to select and apply devices based on clinical context.

Lesson 4 • Standard Intraoperative Monitoring

Covers mandatory monitoring parameters including ECG, pulse oximetry, capnography, and blood pressure. Establishes baseline competency for continuous patient surveillance.

Lesson 1 • Video Laryngoscopy and Optical Devices

Introduces video laryngoscope platforms and fibre-optic bronchoscope-guided intubation. Extends direct laryngoscopy skills to enhanced visualisation technology.

Lesson 2 • Mask Ventilation and Basic Airway Skills

Teaches jaw thrust, chin lift, oral and nasal airways, and two-hand mask technique. Forms the essential rescue skill set underlying all advanced airway interventions.

Lesson 3 • Supraglottic Airway Insertion

Teaches insertion, positioning, and ventilation confirmation for laryngeal mask airways and second-generation devices. Provides an alternative to intubation for appropriate cases.

Lesson 4 • Difficult and Failed Airway Management

Applies structured algorithms for unanticipated difficult intubation and cannot-intubate-cannot-oxygenate scenarios. Integrates all prior airway skills into crisis decision-making.

Lesson 1 • Maintenance of Anaesthesia

Teaches balanced anaesthesia using volatile agents, total intravenous anaesthesia, and adjunct infusions. Connects pharmacology from Chapter 1 to real-time titration decisions.

Lesson 2 • Intraoperative Fluid and Haemodynamic Management

Addresses crystalloid and colloid selection, blood product administration, and vasopressor use. Applies haemodynamic monitoring skills from Chapter 2 to active management.

Lesson 3 • Preoxygenation and Induction Techniques

Covers preoxygenation strategies and intravenous induction sequences including rapid sequence induction. Establishes safe transition from awake to anaesthetised state.

Lesson 1 • Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Nerve Blocks

Introduces ultrasound probe handling, nerve identification, and in-plane needle technique for upper and lower extremity blocks. Applies ultrasound skills to targeted regional anaesthesia.

Lesson 2 • Epidural Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Covers loss-of-resistance technique, catheter placement, test dosing, and epidural infusion management. Extends spinal skills to continuous catheter-based neuraxial techniques.

Lesson 3 • Complications of Regional Anaesthesia

Addresses nerve injury, epidural haematoma, infection, and total spinal anaesthesia recognition and management. Completes regional training with a structured complication response framework.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Regional Anaesthesia

Introduces local anaesthetic pharmacology, block selection criteria, and systemic toxicity prevention. Provides the conceptual framework for all regional techniques.

Lesson 1 • Anaesthesia for Thoracic and Neurological Surgery

Introduces one-lung ventilation, lung isolation devices, and neuromonitoring-compatible anaesthetic techniques. Extends core skills to specialised surgical environments.

Lesson 2 • Paediatric Anaesthesia Fundamentals

Covers developmental physiology, weight-based dosing, and paediatric airway differences. Adapts adult anaesthesia principles to the unique needs of neonates and children.

Lesson 3 • Anaesthesia for High-Risk Cardiac Patients

Covers preoperative cardiac risk evaluation, intraoperative haemodynamic goals, and myocardial protection strategies. Builds on advanced monitoring from Chapter 2 for cardiac cases.

Lesson 4 • Geriatric Anaesthesia Considerations

Examines age-related pharmacokinetic changes, cognitive risk, and frailty assessment in elderly patients. Guides dose reduction and monitoring strategies for this vulnerable population.

Lesson 1 • Respiratory Emergencies

Addresses bronchospasm, pulmonary aspiration, pneumothorax, and hypoxia management during anaesthesia. Integrates airway skills from Chapter 3 into emergency respiratory scenarios.

Lesson 2 • Malignant Hyperthermia

Teaches recognition of malignant hyperthermia triggers, clinical signs, and dantrolene administration protocol. Prepares students to manage this rare but rapidly fatal crisis.

Lesson 3 • Crisis Resource Management in Anaesthesia

Applies crew resource management principles to anaesthesia team leadership, communication, and task distribution during crises. Synthesises technical skills with non-technical team performance.

Lesson 4 • Medication Errors and Drug Safety

Examines causes of anaesthesia drug errors, syringe swap prevention, and high-alert medication protocols. Builds a safety culture mindset applicable to all clinical settings.

Lesson 1 • Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Teaches risk stratification, prophylactic antiemetic selection, and rescue treatment for PONV. Reduces a leading cause of patient dissatisfaction and delayed discharge.

Lesson 2 • Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit Management

Covers PACU admission criteria, routine monitoring, and discharge readiness scoring. Establishes the standard of care for the immediate postoperative recovery period.

Lesson 3 • Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocols

Presents ERAS pathway components including preoperative optimisation, opioid-sparing anaesthesia, and early mobilisation. Integrates anaesthesia practice into a multidisciplinary surgical recovery model.

Lesson 4 • Acute Pain Assessment and Multimodal Analgesia

Introduces pain scoring tools and the rationale for combining analgesic classes to minimise opioid use. Connects regional techniques from Chapter 5 to postoperative pain plans.