Arterial Blood Gas Analysis

This module explains how to do a simple easy to understand arterial blood gas analysis. How to use the 5-step approach to analyse arterial blood gas results as well as explaining how respiration and metabolism are linked and how this effects the results.
Length of study:  90 min
Difficulty: Difficult

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

Spinal Anaesthesia

This module covers the relevant anatomy, physiology and pharmacology of safe and satisfactory spinal anaesthesia.
Length of Study: 90 min
Difficulty: Medium

Cardiac Tamponade

Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening emergency that impairs the ability of the heart to fill and to pump. Although not strictly a perioperative condition it is something that all advanced life support responders should be aware of.
Length of Study: 90 min
Difficulty: Difficult

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

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
   

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

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

Amniotic Fluid Embolism

Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) is a rare but potentially fatal syndrome that is unique to pregnancy. AFE has emerged as one of the leading causes of direct maternal death within developed countries such as Australia, the UK and the USA.
This module discusses AFE, its presentation, diagnosis and treatment.
Length of Study:  60 min
Difficulty: Difficult

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
   

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

Parkinson’s Disease & Anaesthesia

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system the causes of which are poorly understood. 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: Difficult

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

Acute limb compartment syndromes

Compartment syndrome (CS) is a medical emergency, which needs to be recognised by those involved with the provision of anaesthesia surgery and  critical care. This module covers its diagnosis and treatment.
Length of Study: 50 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

Urea & Electrolytes: a review

Urea and electrolytes (U&Es) are the most frequently requested biochemistry tests. They provide useful information about several aspects of health, such as the volume of blood and its pH. The most important aspect of U&Es is what they tell us about kidney functioning.
Length of Study: 50 min
Difficulty: Easy

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

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

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