This chapter is divided into four parts: 1. Airway equipment 2. Routine airway management 3. Emergency airway management 4. Difficult airway management It does not cover airway management in paediatric, obstetric or emergency anaesthesia. These are covered in Chapter 33,…
The conduct of anaesthesia is planned after obtaining details of the surgical procedure and medical condition of the patient. All patients should be visited preoperatively for anaesthetic assessment, including review of the results of relevant investigations. This is also an…
Whenever we seek consent from a patient before medical examination, investigation or treatment, we demonstrate our respect for the ethical principles of autonomy and the patient's right to self-determination. Consent is always given or withheld by the patient; it is…
The number of surgical procedures carried out in patients previously considered unfit for surgery is increasing. A growing proportion have significant coexisting medical conditions, are older and may have a limited physiological reserve. These factors influence the conduct of anaesthesia…
All patients scheduled to undergo surgery should be assessed in advance to ensure optimal preparation and perioperative management. This is a standard of care proposed by the Association of Anaesthetists, RCoA and similar bodies worldwide. It is one mechanism by…
Quality in healthcare is hard to define. One approach is based around six goals: safety; effectiveness; patient focus; timeliness; efficiency; and equity ( Table 18.1 ). Although errors and incidents are commonly discussed in relation to safety, the same fundamental…
The ability to measure and monitor patients’ physiology is fundamental to modern anaesthetic practice, and a variety of sophisticated instruments are available. It is crucial that the anaesthetist understands not only the data being generated but also the limitations of…
Anaesthetists must have a sound understanding and knowledge of the functioning of all the anaesthetic equipment they use. Failure to understand the use of or check equipment before use is an important recognised cause of complications and death. This is…
Knowledge of some physics is required to understand the function of many items of apparatus for anaesthesia delivery and physiological monitoring. This chapter emphasises aspects of physical principles, but the reader should expand on this by further reading ( ;…
Haematological conditions and drugs can have a significant impact on the conduct of anaesthesia. Anaesthetists need to have an understanding of the pathophysiology associated with various haematological diseases and drugs that are known to increase the risk of thrombosis, infection,…