Patient positioning during anaesthesia

Different patient positions are required to provide access for different surgical procedures. Each position has implications for ventilation and haemodynamics, as well as exposing patients to possible complications such as nerve injury and pressure sores.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Easy

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

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

Sutures & Needles a review

This modules reviews different suture materials, absorbable vs non-absorbable, monofilament vs multifilament and the shapes of various needles used in surgery.
Length of Study: 80 min.
Difficulty:Easy

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: Difficult

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
   

Diathermy:  the basics 

Electrosurgery or diathermy has allowed faster operating, reduced blood loss and new surgical techniques. It does have its dangers and its safe use in operating theatres requires a grasp of its mechanisms of action and potential pitfalls.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Easy

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

Medical lasers – the basic principles

With medical lasers becoming more common within the operating theatre and this module gives an insight into the science behind them and the potential hazards of using them.
Length of Study: 75 min
Difficulty: Difficult

Anaesthetic machine safety features

This module covers the safety features built into the modern anaesthetic machine. With more theatres moving to electronic self-checking machines this is a useful reminder of where we have come from and how safety is built into all aspects of the anaesthetic machine. It is also useful for anyone new to anaesthetics.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Easy

Total Intravenous Anaesthesia

Total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) is a technique of general anaesthesia which uses a combination of agents given exclusively by the intravenous route without the use of inhalation agents. This module explains how TIVA/TCI works, the popular models used and how they affect different patient groups.
Length of Study: 75 min. 
Difficulty: Difficult

Understanding the circle system 

Although the circle system looks relatively simple, it is a deceptively complex arrangement that needs to be fully understood to use safely, especially at low flows.
This module explains the components, setup and both advantages and disadvantages of the circle system.

Length of Study: 60 min.
Difficulty: Easy
   

Understanding Central Venous Lines

This module discusses various types of central lines and central venous catheters (CVC).  They are often needed in critically ill patients or in those requiring prolonged intravenous therapies that cannot be given orally or through peripheral lines.

Length of Study: 120 min.
Difficulty: Medium
   

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

Understanding capnography

This module explains the basic principles of capnography, discusses EtCO2 waveforms, and how to interpret them in the ventilated patient.
Length of Study: 60 min.
Difficulty: Medium
   

Malignant Hyperthermia

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare life-threatening condition that is usually triggered by exposure to certain drugs used for general anesthesia. This module reviews malignant hyperthermia, its clinical features and presentations as well as its management during an MH crisis.

This module is largely based on the ‘Malignant hyperthermia 2020 Guidelines’ from the Association of Anaesthetists.

Length of Study: 120 min.
Difficulty: Medium
   

Surgical tourniquets

Surgical tourniquets are commonly used in the operating theatres, particularly during orthopaedic cases. Although they are very safe when used properly they can have rare but catastrophic consequences. This module covers how, where and when to use them and more importantly when not to.
Length of Study: 60 min
Difficulty: Easy

Muscle Relaxants; reversal and the use of peripheral nerve stimulators.

This module discusses residual block, why, when and how muscle relaxants are reversed, and the importance of using a peripheral nerve stimulator when assessing the depth of block. It also covers the different patterns the stimulators use to assess how deep a neuromuscular block is.

Length of Study: 60 min.
Difficulty: Medium
   

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

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

Getting the best out of videolaryngoscopy

The benefits of videolaryngoscopy, especially in unexpected difficult intubations, are numerous but they are not just conventional laryngoscopes with screens. Many have different techniques and need specific training. This module gives tips on how it to use it to its best advantage.

Length of Study: 45 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

BIS: fact or fiction

BIS or Bispectral monitoring is a relatively new but controversial technology to monitor depth of anaesthesia. This module covers how it works and if it works.
Length of Study: 60 min.
Difficulty: Medium