Anesthesia assistant course

Lesson 1 • History and Evolution of Anesthesia

Traces anesthesia from early ether use to modern multimodal techniques. Provides context for current standards and the anesthesia assistant role.

Lesson 2 • Roles Within the Anesthesia Care Team

Defines responsibilities of anesthesiologists, anesthesia assistants, and CRNAs. Clarifies scope of practice and collaborative accountability.

Lesson 3 • Medical Ethics and Informed Consent

Covers ethical principles governing anesthesia practice and the consent process. Connects professional obligations to patient-centered care.

Lesson 1 • Hepatic and Renal Drug Metabolism

Explains how the liver and kidneys process anesthetic drugs and affect dosing. Prepares students to adjust drug regimens in organ-impaired patients.

Lesson 2 • Respiratory System Anatomy and Function

Reviews upper and lower airway structures critical for intubation and ventilation. Directly supports airway management techniques taught in later chapters.

Lesson 3 • Fluid and Electrolyte Physiology

Addresses fluid compartments, electrolyte balance, and acid-base regulation. Underpins intraoperative fluid management decisions covered in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • Cardiovascular Physiology Essentials

Covers cardiac output determinants, vascular resistance, and baroreceptor reflexes. Provides the basis for hemodynamic monitoring and drug selection.

Lesson 1 • Opioid Analgesics in Anesthesia

Reviews mu-receptor pharmacology, opioid potency ratios, and respiratory depression risk. Prepares students for balanced anesthesia and multimodal analgesia planning.

Lesson 2 • Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

Distinguishes depolarizing from non-depolarizing agents and their reversal drugs. Directly supports intubation and extubation decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Local Anesthetics and Adjuvant Drugs

Covers sodium channel blockade, agent selection, and systemic toxicity. Introduces adjuvants including dexmedetomidine, midazolam, and antiemetics.

Lesson 4 • Intravenous Induction and Sedation Agents

Examines propofol, ketamine, etomidate, and barbiturates for induction and sedation. Connects pharmacokinetics to clinical dosing and patient selection.

Lesson 1 • Preoperative Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests

Identifies evidence-based indications for preoperative testing and interprets key results. Prevents unnecessary testing while ensuring clinically relevant data is available.

Lesson 2 • Risk Stratification and Classification Systems

Applies physical status classification and cardiac risk indices to stratify perioperative risk. Guides anesthesia plan complexity and monitoring requirements.

Lesson 3 • Fasting Guidelines and Premedication

Applies evidence-based fasting intervals and selects appropriate premedications. Reduces aspiration risk and optimizes patient comfort before induction.

Lesson 4 • Patient History and Physical Examination

Structures a systematic anesthesia-focused history and airway-oriented physical exam. Forms the foundation for all subsequent risk stratification and planning.

Lesson 1 • Airway Assessment and Prediction Tools

Applies validated tools to predict difficult intubation and ventilation. Enables proactive planning before airway instrumentation begins.

Lesson 2 • Difficult and Failed Airway Management

Applies difficult airway algorithms including awake intubation and surgical airway rescue. Prepares students for high-stakes airway emergencies.

Lesson 3 • Extubation and Postoperative Airway Care

Covers criteria for safe extubation, deep versus awake extubation, and post-extubation complications. Completes the airway management continuum from induction to recovery.

Lesson 4 • Basic Airway Devices and Techniques

Covers mask ventilation, oral and nasal airways, and supraglottic devices. Establishes foundational skills required before advanced airway techniques.

Lesson 1 • Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring

Covers arterial line insertion, central venous access, and pulmonary artery catheter data. Prepares students for high-acuity surgical and critical care environments.

Lesson 2 • Standard Monitoring Requirements

Establishes mandatory monitoring parameters and their physiological basis. Provides the baseline monitoring framework applied in every anesthetic.

Lesson 3 • Anesthesia Machine Setup and Checkout

Teaches systematic machine checkout, vaporizer function, and breathing circuit assembly. Prevents equipment-related adverse events before every case.

Lesson 4 • Depth of Anesthesia and Neuromuscular Monitoring

Introduces processed EEG monitoring and quantitative neuromuscular assessment. Reduces awareness under anesthesia and residual paralysis risk.

Lesson 1 • Anesthesia in Obese and High-Risk Patients

Addresses airway, ventilation, and pharmacokinetic challenges in obesity and comorbid patients. Applies risk-stratified planning to optimize outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Obstetric Anesthesia Fundamentals

Covers physiological changes of pregnancy, neuraxial labor analgesia, and cesarean anesthesia. Addresses maternal and fetal safety simultaneously.

Lesson 3 • Anesthesia for Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery

Introduces cardiopulmonary bypass principles, one-lung ventilation, and hemodynamic goals. Prepares students for high-complexity surgical environments.

Lesson 4 • Geriatric Anesthesia Considerations

Examines age-related pharmacokinetic changes, cognitive risk, and polypharmacy challenges. Guides dose reduction and monitoring strategies for elderly patients.

Lesson 1 • Crisis Resource Management in Anesthesia

Applies crew resource management principles to anesthesia team performance during crises. Integrates cognitive aids, closed-loop communication, and leadership skills.

Lesson 2 • Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions

Distinguishes anaphylaxis from anaphylactoid reactions and applies epinephrine-based treatment. Covers common anesthetic triggers and post-event investigation.

Lesson 3 • Malignant Hyperthermia Recognition and Treatment

Teaches early signs, triggering agents, and dantrolene administration for malignant hyperthermia. Emphasizes time-critical team coordination and drug preparation.

Lesson 4 • Cardiovascular Emergencies During Anesthesia

Covers intraoperative hypotension, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest management. Builds systematic response skills for the most common hemodynamic crises.