An urgent call to the labour ward

Emergencies on the labour ward may have obstetric, anaesthetic, or general medical causes. This module covers the most common emergencies on the ward and what the response should be.
Length of Study: 90 min
Difficulty: Easy

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

Ketamine in anaesthetic practice

Ketamine is the only anaesthetic available which has analgesic, hypnotic and amnesic effects. When used correctly it is a very useful and versatile drug.
Length of Study: 45 min
Difficulty: Easy

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

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
   

Pre-eclampsia and Anaesthetics

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the kidneys. Left untreated, pre-eclampsia can lead to serious even fatal complications for both mother and baby and the only cure is delivery.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Easy

Temperature Management in Children

Maintenance of normothermia in children under going surgery is challenging. There is clear evidence in adults that even mild intra-operative hypothermia is associated with adverse outcome. This short article discusses the problems and what we can do about it.
Length of Study: 40 min
Difficulty: Easy

Perioperative Hypothermia

Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia can occur in up to 40% of surgical patients so it essential for theatre practitioners to know what causes it and how to prevent it.
A well as being very stressful and uncomfortable for patients upon waking, it has many negative consequences including delayed drug metabolism, wound healing and increased infection rates.

Length of Study: 75 min.
Difficulty: Easy
   

Perioperative Cell Salvage: an introduction

This module discusses basics of perioperative cell salvage or call saver. Its principles, indications, contra-indications and the various types of system available.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficulty: Easy

Understanding & Establishing Intraosseous Access

Intraosseous (IO) access is an alternative method to providing venous administration of drugs and fluids. Commonly used by the military and pre-hospital medics,it is gaining popularity in the hospital setting where intravenous access is challenging or time critical.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficulty: Easy

Local Anaesthetic Systemic Toxicity

Local anaesthetic systemic toxicity is rare but when it does occur its onset may be sudden and life-threatening so it is prudent to spend time preventing rather than treating it. All theatre staff should be aware of the doses limits of local anaesthetics they use as well as the causes, signs and treatment of LAST.
Length of Study: 50 min.
Difficulty: Easy
   

Awareness under Anaesthesia

Awareness during anaesthesia can be very distressing for a patient, particularly if accompanied by recall of the painful nature of surgery. This article explores the types, incidence, consequences, causes, management and avoidance of intraoperative awareness.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Easy

The fundamentals of arterial lines

This module covers the basic principles behind setting up, inserting and monitoring intra-arterial blood pressure lines that an anaesthetic assistant needs.
There is also an separate advanced module available which covers more of the physics indepth.
Length of Study: 90 min
Difficulty: Easy

Anaesthesia for ECT

ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) is a treatment that involves sending an electric current through the brain to trigger an epileptic seizure to relieve the symptoms of some mental health problem. This module covers the anaesthetic aspects of it.
Length of Study: 45 min. 
Difficulty: Easy

Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents

This module discusses aspiration which is a relatively rare, but potentially fatal complication of general anaesthesia occurring most commonly in emergency patients. Prevention is the key, and there are several mandatory requirements that must be fulfilled in the at-risk patient. However, in the event of aspiration occurring, treatment is essentially supportive once the airway has been secured.

Length of Study: 60 min.
Difficulty: Easy
   

Bone Cement Implantation Syndrome

Bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS) is a potentially fatal complication of orthopaedic surgery.
The ability to predict, recognise, and manage BCIS is important for everyone working in the perioperative environment.
Length of Study: 60 min.
Difficulty: Easy
   

Sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease is a disorder of the blood caused by an inherited abnormal haemoglobin. The abnormal haemoglobin causes distorted (sickled) red blood cells. When the number of red blood cells decreases from rupture (haemolysis), anaemia is the result. The irregular sickled cells can also block blood vessels causing tissue and organ damage and pain.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Easy

Suxamethonium Apnoea

This module describes the action of suxamethonium, the inheritance of suxamethonium apnoea, and the non-inherited conditions that can also cause it. The presentation and treatment of the condition are discussed.
Length of Study: 45 min
Difficulty: Easy

Surgical smoke: is it safe?

Surgical smoke is now recognised as a hazard that is encountered in all operating theatres. Unfortunately, the dangers and health risks associated with it continue to be overlooked by many surgeons, nurses and theatre staff. It is important to be aware of the dangers of surgical smoke and for everyone to help minimise the risks.
Length of study:  60 min
Difficulty: Easy