CPD modules: Medium
You are free to download, print and study the modules. Once you have completed your reading come back and take the multichoice test. If you obtain a pass mark of over 80% you will have the option of printing out a certificate of completion.
Understanding local anaesthetics
This module discusses the pharmacology of local anaesthetic agents and then briefly describes the various additives that can be used with these agents.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficulty: Medium
Management of Major Obstetric Haemorrhage
Major obstetric haemorrhage is a common cause of maternal morbidity and mortality and the recognition of major obstetric haemorrhage can be challenging. This module discusses it causes, symptoms and importantly anaesthetic management of cases.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficulty: Medium
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Blood Issues
Jehovah’s Witnesses are well known for their refusal of blood transfusions. But how much do you really know? What can or can’t they have, are epidural blood patches acceptable and what rights do parents have to refuse their children blood transfusions? This article discusses these issues as well as giving background on who are Jehovah’s Witnesses and what they believe in. It also covers the area of consent in both children and adults according to New Zealand law.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Medium
Physiological effects of transfer for critically ill patients
Critically ill patients can be exposed to significant physiological changes during transfer that can lead to significant instability with hypoxia, hypotension, arrhythmias and changes in intracranial pressure (ICP). This tutorial will explore the physiological effects that land and air transfer have on critically ill patients and describe how these adverse physiological sequelae can be avoided or reduced.
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
Proact Combi™ Laryngoscope (Sponsored)
Invented by PROACT in 2010, the Combi™ Laryngoscope concept provides an all-in-one Laryngoscope set with a pre-fitted PERMANENTLY attached blade and preloaded 6V Battery Pack.
Perioperative anaphylaxis
Perioperative anaphylaxis is not uncommon and several commonly used anaesthetic drugs can cause anaphylaxis. This modules covers latest guidelines to identifying and treating anaphylaxis in theatre as well as the post theatre care required.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Medium
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
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
Anaesthesia for the patient with a cardiac transplant
For patients who have previously received a cardiac transplant, coming to theatre for non-related surgery is no longer unusual as survival times continue to increase for transplant recipients. With altered physiology, and the effects of long term anti-rejection drugs use, their anaesthetic requirements are more complicated and it is essential to know what works and what doesn’t.
Length of Study 60 min
Difficulty: Medium
Peri-operative Management of Patients on Strong Opioids
It is very common to encounter patients on strong opioid medication. These patients present particularly challenging pain management difficulties in the peri-operative period due to behavioural, psychological and pharmacological consequences of opioid treatment. This module discusses the key concepts in the anaesthetic management of patients taking strong opioids and steps that can be taken to ensure optimum peri-operative care.
Length of Study: 80 min
Difficulty: Medium
Parkinson’s Disease & Anaesthesia
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system the causes of which are poorly inderstood. This module covers its management under anaesthetic, discusses which drugs are safe for use in this patient group and whether regional or GA anaesthetic are more appropriate.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Medium
Changes in Pregnancy Relevant to Anaesthesia
Pregnancy causes major physiological changes to the mother’s body. An understanding of these changes is the key to safe obstetric anaesthesia. The causes of these changes are initially hormonal; metabolic and mechanical factors also contribute as the fetus develops.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Medium
Understanding your ECG: a review
Health professionals use the electrocardiograph (ECG) rhythm strip to systematically analyse the cardiac rhythm. Before the systematic process of ECG analysis is described it is important to understand the individual waveforms, segments and intervals of the ECG. This module reviews all these steps.
Length of Study: 90 min
Difficulty: Medium
Enhanced Recovery From Surgery (ERAS)
Enhanced recovery is a modern evidence-based approach that helps people recover more quickly after having major surgery. Many hospitals – although not all – have enhanced recovery programmes in place, and it’s becoming standard practice following surgery for many procedures.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficulty: Medium
Arterial Blood Pressure Measurement – The physics and principles.
Intra-arterial blood pressure measurement is often considered to be the gold standard of blood pressure measurement. This accuracy however, depends on a number of physical principles of the systems used, which are explored in this advanced module.
The is also a separate easier module available covering setting up and using arterial lines.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficulty: Medium
Understanding vaporisers
This updated module explains how modern anaesthetic vaporisers work and the principles behind them. It includes electronic and direct injection vaporisers.
Length of Study: 60 min.
Difficulty: Medium
Paediatric Pain
Good quality, effective management of pain in paediatric patients is an essential component of paediatric anaesthesia. However, achieving this can be difficult for a variety of reasons not least of which is the enormous variations that occur physiologically and psychologically throughout the range of ages encountered in the paediatric population.
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
Muscle Relaxants: the fundamentals
The introduction of neuromuscular blocking drugs revolutionised the practice of anaesthesia. Before the advent of muscle relaxants, anaesthesia was induced and maintained by intravenous or inhalation agents.
This comprehensive module covers all aspects of neuromuscular muscle relaxants.
Length of Study: 90 min
Difficulty: Medium
