New starter

Introduction to anaesthesia

What is anaesthesia?

• What anaesthetists actually do
• The components of general anaesthesia (hypnosis, analgesia, muscle relaxation)
• The perioperative journey
• Theatre team roles and communication

The operating theatre environment

• The anaesthetic machine: basic overview
• Drugs trolley setup
• The anaesthetic room workflow
• Who checklist and safety culture
• Standard monitoring (aagbi standards)

Airway fundamentals

Basic airway assessment

• Mallampati and airway examination
• Predictors of difficult mask ventilation
• Predictors of difficult intubation
• Rapid airway assessment in emergencies

Basic airway management

• Bag-valve-mask ventilation
• Oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways
• Supraglottic airway devices
• Introduction to tracheal intubation

Oxygenation and pre-oxygenation

• Why pre-oxygenation matters
• Safe apnoea time
• Positioning for oxygenation
• Introduction to apnoeic oxygenation

Induction of anaesthesia

Intravenous induction

• Propofol basics
• Opioids in induction
• Neuromuscular blockers overview
• Typical drug doses for adults

Inhalational induction

• When and why it is used
• Sevoflurane basics
• Paediatric considerations

Rapid sequence induction

• Indications
• Modified vs classical rsi
• Cricoid pressure
• Aspiration risk

Maintenance of anaesthesia

Volatile anaesthesia

• Mac explained simply
• Monitoring end-tidal agent
• Depth of anaesthesia

Tiva basics

• What is tiva?
• Propofol infusion principles
• When tiva is useful

Ventilation basics

• Volume vs pressure control
• Basic ventilator settings
• Understanding capnography
• Recognising ventilator problems

Emergence and recovery

Reversal of neuromuscular block

• Neostigmine basics
• Sugammadex basics
• Train-of-four monitoring

Extubation

• Criteria for safe extubation
• Deep vs awake extubation
• Laryngospasm

Immediate postoperative care

• Handover to recovery
• Common pacu problems
• Postoperative nausea and vomiting

Analgesia basics

Simple analgesia

• Paracetamol
• Nsaids
• Multimodal analgesia

Opioids

• Morphine
• Fentanyl
• Oversedation and respiratory depression

Introduction to regional anaesthesia

• Spinal anaesthesia overview
• Epidural basics
• Common peripheral nerve blocks (conceptual)

Fluids and haemodynamics

Intravenous fluids

• Crystalloids vs colloids
• Maintenance fluids
• Fluid boluses

Hypotension in theatre

• Common causes
• Immediate management approach
• Introduction to vasopressors

Blood loss and transfusion

• Estimating blood loss
• Massive haemorrhage overview
• Transfusion basics

Common emergencies for new starters

Laryngospasm

• Recognition
• Immediate management
• When to use suxamethonium

Anaphylaxis

• Immediate treatment
• Adrenaline dosing basics

Hypoxia

• A structured approach
• Airway vs breathing vs equipment

Failed intubation (introduction)

• The concept of a difficult airway algorithm
• When to call for help