COPD and Anaesthesia

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a commonly encountered respiratory disorder. Patients with COPD pose a challenge to the anaesthetist because intraoperative and postoperative complications occur more commonly than in those without the disease, and can lead to prolonged hospital stay and increased mortality. This module provides an overview of COPD and discusses implications for the anaesthetic management of patients with the disease.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficulty Medium

General anaesthesia in obstetrics

Major advances in obstetric anesthesia have resulted in improved maternal outcomes but the failure rate is still higher than in non-obstetric anaesthetics. The consequences of a failed intubation in the obstetric patient may not only affect the mother, but also the fetus. This article gives an overview of how to conduct a GA in obstetrics safely and safely manage a failed intubation to ensure a good outcome. It contains guidance to the  OAA/DAS Obstetric Airway Guidelines.

Length of Study: 75 min.
Difficulty: Medium
   

Oxygen Saturations & Pulse Oximetery

The pulse oximeter provides an indication of oxygen status in the body. However, the link between a pulse oximeter reading and the events occurring in the body can be complex and difficult to evaluate. We all require an understanding of factors associated with oxygen uptake and delivery to be able to use pulse oximetry in a knowledgeable way.
Length of Study: 80 min
Difficulty: Easy

Apnoea & Pre-oxygenation

Pre-oxygenation is used in anaesthesia to prolong the time to desaturation during a period of apnoea, such as frequently happens upon induction. This can also be thought of a denitogenation. This article covers the science behind it and discusses some patient groups that need special attention.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Easy

Paediatric Anaesthetic Emergencies: Pt 2

Paediatric anaesthetic emergencies can happen faster and leave less time to react the in adults. They present complex, potentially life-threatening situations that everyone engaged in giving paediatric anaesthetic should be aware of and be able to treat.This second article covers malignant hyperthermia and anaphylaxis.
Length of Study   50min
Difficulty: Medium

When Anaesthetics Go Wrong

This one is a little different. There is no test at the end. The video is the story of Elaine Bromiley who died while under anaesthetic for a routine elective surgical procedure. Viewing this is a must for anyone working in the operating theatre and it is perfect to write up as an example of reflective practice. The PDF is an anonymous version of an Independent Report on the death of Elaine Bromiley.
Length of video: 15 minutes
  

The Difficult Paediatric Airway

There are anatomical and physiological differences between the infant, child and adult that make even the normal paediatric airway difficult for the inexperienced practitioner, particularly in children under one year of age. Good preoperative assessment and preparation is therefore key to success of the management of the difficult airway in children. This article covers this and more.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficultly: Difficult

Safe tracheal extubation

This article covers complications occurring during emergence, extubation and later in recovery. It details the DAS guidelines on safe extubation and explains the factors that increase the risks of
adverse events. It also describes how to optimise conditions before tracheal extubation.

Length of Study: 60 min.
Difficulty: Medium
   

Laryngospasm in Anaesthesia

Recognition of at-risk patients will help to prevent laryngospasm and avoid potential significant morbidity. This module discusses laryngospasm, its recognition, prevention and treatment.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficulty: Easy

Tracheostomy fundamentals

Tracheostomies are becoming more common and the consequences of a misplaced tube can be serious so a good understanding of them is essential.
Length of Study: 90 min
Difficulty: Medium

Predicting difficult airways

Proper airway assessment is essential and takes less than 2 minutes. This can give an indication of a potential difficult airway. This modules covers whats involved and what to look for.
Length of Study: 60 min. 
Difficulty: Easy

Paediatric Trauma

Anatomical and physiological differences in children require special consideration and most seriously injured children have multiple injuries. This module is mainly for those who may be called to A&E resus but the general principles are useful for anyone who works with children.
Length of Study: 60 min.
Difficulty: Medium

The effects of anaesthesia on respiratory function.

This tutorial will explain how anaesthesia affects the respiratory system and how these effects can be managed.
Length of Study:  60 minutes
Difficulty: Medium

Burn patients: the anaesthetic considerations of

This group of patients can be challenging with profound hypermetabolism, pain management issues, potential airway problems, etc. These are all covered in this module.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficulty: Medium

Inhalation (gas) Induction

This module covers inhalation or gas induction. Although it is routine to induce general anaesthesia by the intravenous (IV) route, the inhalational route remains an acceptable method and is preferred in certain circumstances.
Length of Study: 60 min. 
Difficulty: Medium

Rapid Sequence Induction

Rapid sequence induction (RSI) is a method of achieving rapid control of the airway whilst minimising the risk of regurgitation and aspiration of gastric contents. This module covers RSI, its indications and contraindications.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Easy

Bronchospasm during general anaesthesia

Bronchospasm is a relatively common event during general anaesthesia. Anaesthetic assistants need to know how to identify and treat bronchospasm. Management begins with switching to 100% oxygen and calling for help early. Increasing the inspired concentration of Isoflurane and Sevoflurane will produce bronchodilatation and is a good start.

Length of Study: 60 min.
Difficulty: Medium
   

Paediatric Anaesthetic Emergencies: Pt I

Paediatric anaesthetic emergencies can happen faster and leave less time to react then in adults. They present complex, potentially life-threatening situations that everyone engaged in giving paediatric anaesthetic should be aware of and be able to treat.This first article covers laryngospasm and suxamethonium apnoea.
Length of Study: 50 min
Difficulty: Medium

Emergency front of neck access in airway management

This module describes the guidance for emergency front of neck access, reviews techniques to improve decision making in the transition to eFONA and reviews the  ‘scapel, bougie,
tube’ technique when performing eFONA.

Length of Study: 45 min.
Difficulty: Easy