Anesthesia Course

Lesson 1 • Anatomy Relevant to Anesthesia

Covers airway, vascular, and neuraxial anatomy critical for procedural access. Builds the spatial knowledge needed for all subsequent clinical techniques.

Lesson 2 • Pharmacology of Anesthetic Agents

Introduces drug classes used in anesthesia, including inhalational agents, intravenous hypnotics, and adjuncts. Links pharmacokinetics to clinical dosing decisions.

Lesson 3 • Physiology of Anesthesia

Examines cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological responses to anesthetic agents. Provides the mechanistic basis for monitoring and managing patient stability.

Lesson 1 • Ventilator Modes and Settings

Explains volume-controlled, pressure-controlled, and lung-protective ventilation strategies. Connects ventilator settings to respiratory physiology established in Chapter 1.

Lesson 2 • The Anesthesia Workstation

Explains the components and gas delivery pathways of the modern anesthesia machine. Connects equipment function to patient safety during gas administration.

Lesson 3 • Airway Management Devices

Surveys masks, supraglottic airways, and endotracheal tubes used to secure the airway. Prepares students to select and apply devices based on clinical context.

Lesson 4 • Standard Intraoperative Monitoring

Covers mandatory monitoring parameters including ECG, pulse oximetry, capnography, and blood pressure. Establishes baseline competency for continuous patient surveillance.

Lesson 1 • Video Laryngoscopy and Optical Devices

Introduces video laryngoscope platforms and fiber-optic bronchoscope-guided intubation. Extends direct laryngoscopy skills to enhanced visualization technology.

Lesson 2 • Mask Ventilation and Basic Airway Skills

Teaches jaw thrust, chin lift, oral and nasal airways, and two-hand mask technique. Forms the essential rescue skill set underlying all advanced airway interventions.

Lesson 3 • Supraglottic Airway Insertion

Teaches insertion, positioning, and ventilation confirmation for laryngeal mask airways and second-generation devices. Provides an alternative to intubation for appropriate cases.

Lesson 4 • Difficult and Failed Airway Management

Applies structured algorithms for unanticipated difficult intubation and cannot-intubate-cannot-oxygenate scenarios. Integrates all prior airway skills into crisis decision-making.

Lesson 1 • Maintenance of Anesthesia

Teaches balanced anesthesia using volatile agents, total intravenous anesthesia, and adjunct infusions. Connects pharmacology from Chapter 1 to real-time titration decisions.

Lesson 2 • Intraoperative Fluid and Hemodynamic Management

Addresses crystalloid and colloid selection, blood product administration, and vasopressor use. Applies hemodynamic monitoring skills from Chapter 2 to active management.

Lesson 3 • Preoxygenation and Induction Techniques

Covers preoxygenation strategies and intravenous induction sequences including rapid sequence induction. Establishes safe transition from awake to anesthetized state.

Lesson 1 • Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Nerve Blocks

Introduces ultrasound probe handling, nerve identification, and in-plane needle technique for upper and lower extremity blocks. Applies ultrasound skills to targeted regional anesthesia.

Lesson 2 • Epidural Anesthesia and Analgesia

Covers loss-of-resistance technique, catheter placement, test dosing, and epidural infusion management. Extends spinal skills to continuous catheter-based neuraxial techniques.

Lesson 3 • Complications of Regional Anesthesia

Addresses nerve injury, epidural hematoma, infection, and total spinal anesthesia recognition and management. Completes regional training with a structured complication response framework.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Regional Anesthesia

Introduces local anesthetic pharmacology, block selection criteria, and systemic toxicity prevention. Provides the conceptual framework for all regional techniques.

Lesson 1 • Anesthesia for Thoracic and Neurological Surgery

Introduces one-lung ventilation, lung isolation devices, and neuromonitoring-compatible anesthetic techniques. Extends core skills to specialized surgical environments.

Lesson 2 • Pediatric Anesthesia Fundamentals

Covers developmental physiology, weight-based dosing, and pediatric airway differences. Adapts adult anesthesia principles to the unique needs of neonates and children.

Lesson 3 • Anesthesia for High-Risk Cardiac Patients

Covers preoperative cardiac risk evaluation, intraoperative hemodynamic goals, and myocardial protection strategies. Builds on advanced monitoring from Chapter 2 for cardiac cases.

Lesson 4 • Geriatric Anesthesia Considerations

Examines age-related pharmacokinetic changes, cognitive risk, and frailty assessment in elderly patients. Guides dose reduction and monitoring strategies for this vulnerable population.

Lesson 1 • Respiratory Emergencies

Addresses bronchospasm, pulmonary aspiration, pneumothorax, and hypoxia management during anesthesia. Integrates airway skills from Chapter 3 into emergency respiratory scenarios.

Lesson 2 • Malignant Hyperthermia

Teaches recognition of malignant hyperthermia triggers, clinical signs, and dantrolene administration protocol. Prepares students to manage this rare but rapidly fatal crisis.

Lesson 3 • Crisis Resource Management in Anesthesia

Applies crew resource management principles to anesthesia team leadership, communication, and task distribution during crises. Synthesizes technical skills with non-technical team performance.

Lesson 4 • Medication Errors and Drug Safety

Examines causes of anesthesia drug errors, syringe swap prevention, and high-alert medication protocols. Builds a safety culture mindset applicable to all clinical settings.

Lesson 1 • Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Teaches risk stratification, prophylactic antiemetic selection, and rescue treatment for PONV. Reduces a leading cause of patient dissatisfaction and delayed discharge.

Lesson 2 • Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Management

Covers PACU admission criteria, routine monitoring, and discharge readiness scoring. Establishes the standard of care for the immediate postoperative recovery period.

Lesson 3 • Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocols

Presents ERAS pathway components including preoperative optimization, opioid-sparing anesthesia, and early mobilization. Integrates anesthesia practice into a multidisciplinary surgical recovery model.

Lesson 4 • Acute Pain Assessment and Multimodal Analgesia

Introduces pain scoring tools and the rationale for combining analgesic classes to minimize opioid use. Connects regional techniques from Chapter 5 to postoperative pain plans.