Anesthesiologist assistant course

Lesson 1 • Applied Anatomy for Anesthesia

Reviews airway, cardiovascular, and neurological anatomy critical to anesthetic decision-making. Builds the anatomical foundation required for all subsequent clinical technique chapters.

Lesson 2 • Anesthesia Equipment Basics

Introduces the anesthesia workstation, breathing circuits, and gas delivery systems. Prepares students to perform pre-use checks and identify equipment malfunctions safely.

Lesson 3 • Physiology Relevant to Anesthesia

Covers cardiopulmonary, renal, and neurological physiology as they relate to anesthetic drug effects. Provides the mechanistic basis for monitoring and managing patients under anesthesia.

Lesson 4 • Pharmacology Fundamentals

Introduces pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles governing anesthetic agents. Enables accurate drug dosing calculations and anticipation of clinical drug interactions.

Lesson 1 • Preoperative Laboratory and Diagnostics

Guides selection and interpretation of preoperative tests based on patient risk and procedure type. Prevents unnecessary testing while ensuring critical abnormalities are identified before surgery.

Lesson 2 • Risk Stratification and Classification

Applies standardized physical status classification and cardiac risk indices to patient populations. Enables evidence-based risk communication and informed consent support.

Lesson 3 • Anesthetic Plan Formulation

Integrates assessment data into a comprehensive, individualized anesthetic plan. Addresses technique selection, monitoring needs, and contingency strategies for anticipated complications.

Lesson 4 • Preoperative History and Physical

Teaches structured history-taking and focused physical examination relevant to anesthetic risk. Connects patient comorbidities to specific anesthetic considerations and plan modifications.

Lesson 1 • Basic Airway Maneuvers and Devices

Teaches mask ventilation, oral and nasal airways, and positioning for airway patency. These foundational skills support oxygenation during all phases of anesthetic induction.

Lesson 2 • Supraglottic Airway Devices

Covers insertion, confirmation, and limitations of laryngeal mask airways and second-generation devices. Positions supraglottic airways as primary and rescue tools within difficult airway algorithms.

Lesson 3 • Difficult and Failed Airway Management

Applies structured algorithms for unanticipated difficult intubation and cannot-intubate-cannot-oxygenate scenarios. Integrates awake intubation, flexible bronchoscopy, and surgical airway rescue.

Lesson 4 • Direct and Video Laryngoscopy

Develops laryngoscopy technique using direct and video-assisted devices for endotracheal intubation. Emphasizes grade visualization, tube placement, and confirmation of correct positioning.

Lesson 1 • Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

Covers depolarizing and non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers, reversal agents, and monitoring. Ensures safe intubating conditions and complete reversal before extubation.

Lesson 2 • Adjunct and Multimodal Agents

Introduces non-opioid analgesics, antiemetics, and vasoactive drugs used as anesthetic adjuncts. Supports multimodal analgesia and hemodynamic management strategies throughout the perioperative period.

Lesson 3 • Intravenous Induction Agents

Examines propofol, ketamine, etomidate, and barbiturates for induction and maintenance. Guides agent selection based on hemodynamic status, comorbidities, and procedural requirements.

Lesson 4 • Inhalational Anesthetic Agents

Covers pharmacology, MAC values, and clinical use of volatile agents and nitrous oxide. Connects agent properties to uptake, distribution, and emergence timing in clinical practice.

Lesson 1 • Depth of Anesthesia Monitoring

Introduces processed EEG monitoring and clinical signs for assessing anesthetic depth. Prevents awareness under anesthesia and guides agent titration for optimal dosing.

Lesson 2 • Fluid and Hemodynamic Management

Applies goal-directed fluid therapy principles using dynamic and static hemodynamic indices. Balances crystalloid, colloid, and blood product administration to optimize tissue perfusion.

Lesson 3 • Intraoperative Crisis Recognition

Trains rapid recognition and initial management of common intraoperative crises using cognitive aids. Builds systematic response patterns for hypotension, hypoxia, bronchospasm, and arrhythmias.

Lesson 4 • Advanced Hemodynamic Monitoring

Covers arterial lines, central venous catheters, and pulmonary artery catheters for high-risk patients. Enables interpretation of waveforms and derived hemodynamic parameters for goal-directed therapy.

Lesson 1 • Local Anesthetic Pharmacology

Details mechanism of action, classification, and clinical profiles of local anesthetic agents. Provides the pharmacological basis for block selection, dosing, and toxicity prevention.

Lesson 2 • Acute Postoperative Pain Management

Designs multimodal analgesia regimens integrating opioids, non-opioids, and regional techniques. Addresses pain assessment tools and opioid-sparing strategies for enhanced recovery.

Lesson 3 • Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Nerve Blocks

Introduces ultrasound principles and image optimization for peripheral nerve block guidance. Develops needle visualization skills for upper and lower extremity blocks.

Lesson 4 • Neuraxial Anesthesia Techniques

Covers spinal, epidural, and combined spinal-epidural techniques including anatomy, dosing, and management. Addresses physiological effects of neuraxial blockade and their clinical implications.

Lesson 1 • Obstetric Anesthesia Management

Covers physiological changes of pregnancy and anesthetic implications for labor, cesarean, and emergencies. Addresses fetal drug exposure, uteroplacental circulation, and maternal airway challenges.

Lesson 2 • Pediatric Anesthesia Principles

Addresses developmental physiology, weight-based dosing, and airway differences in neonates and children. Prepares students to manage inhalational induction, pediatric equipment, and common pediatric procedures.

Lesson 3 • Anesthesia for Obese and High-Risk Patients

Adapts positioning, dosing, ventilation, and monitoring strategies for morbidly obese and medically complex patients. Addresses obesity hypoventilation, GERD risk, and difficult airway management in this population.

Lesson 4 • Cardiac and Thoracic Surgical Anesthesia

Introduces anesthetic management for cardiac surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, and thoracic procedures. Covers one-lung ventilation, hemodynamic goals, and myocardial protection strategies.

Lesson 1 • Malignant Hyperthermia Management

Covers pathophysiology, triggering agents, clinical presentation, and emergency treatment of malignant hyperthermia. Prepares students to initiate dantrolene therapy and coordinate team response immediately.

Lesson 2 • Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions

Identifies common anesthetic triggers of anaphylaxis and guides graded treatment from mild to severe reactions. Emphasizes epinephrine as first-line therapy and post-event allergy workup.

Lesson 3 • Crisis Resource Management Principles

Applies human factors and team communication principles to perioperative crisis management. Builds leadership, closed-loop communication, and cognitive aid utilization skills for high-stakes scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Cardiac Arrest in the OR

Adapts ACLS algorithms to the unique intraoperative environment and anesthesia-specific arrest etiologies. Addresses reversible causes, defibrillation, and team communication during perioperative cardiac arrest.