How to Survive in Anaesthesia

The first few months as a trainee anaesthetist are a daunting prospect, filled with new information, skills and terminology. This concise reference, now in its fifth edition, provides doctors with a clear introduction to the practice. Fully updated and split into four key parts for quick consultation, the reader can recap on the airway and anaesthetic equipment, and find crucial advice on crises such as cardiac arrest, haemorrhage and blood transfusion. Part III focuses on subspecialties, with new chapters on obstetric anaesthesia, common regional nerve blocks, and laparoscopy, while the newly added fourth part provides information on intensive care and peri-operative medicine. Written in an accessible and often humorous style, How to Survive in Anaesthesia is an essential resource in learning the safe fundamentals of the practice for trainee anaesthetists, as well as operating department practitioners, physicians' assistants and anaesthetic nurses.

    Distils the complexity of the speciality into logical areas, ensuring that safe, simple anaesthesia is paramount
    While written for trainee anaesthetists, it is also valuable for trainees from other specialties (such as acute medicine) rotating through anaesthesia
    The obstetric anaesthesia chapter in particular is relevant into the second year of training and beyond
    Now in its fifth edition

Table of Contents

List of figures
List of tables
List of boxes
Preface to the fifth edition
Preface to the fourth edition
Preface to the third edition
Preface to the second edition
Preface to the first edition
Let's start at the very beginning …
Part I. Nuts and Bolts:
1. Evaluation of the airway
2. Control of the airway
3. Tracheal intubation
4. Failed intubation drill
5. Vascular access
6. Intravenous fluids
7. The anaesthetic machine
8. Anaesthetic breathing systems
9. Ventilators and other equipment
10. Monitoring in anaesthesia
Part II. Crises and Complications:
11. Cardiac arrest
12. Haemorrhage and blood transfusion
13. Anaphylactic reactions
14. Malignant hyperthermia
15. Local anaesthetic toxicity
16. Stridor – upper airway obstruction
17. Pneumothorax
18. Common intraoperative problems
19. Postoperative problems
20. Anaesthetic mishaps
Part III. Passing the Gas:
21. Preoperative evaluation
22. Principles of emergency anaesthesia
23. Anaesthesia for laparoscopic surgery
24. Anaesthesia for abdominal surgery
25. Anaesthesia for gynaecological surgery
26. Anaesthesia for urological surgery
27. Anaesthesia for dental and ENT surgery
28. Anaesthesia for orthopaedic surgery
29. Anaesthesia for day case surgery
30. Epidural and spinal anaesthesia
31. Common regional blocks
32. Obstetric anaesthesia
33. Anaesthesia in the corridor
Part IV. Walking the Walk (Talking the Talk):
34. Management of the patient in the recovery area
35. Postoperative analgesia
36. Recognition and management of the sick patient
37. Intensive care (critical care), section 1
38. Intensive care (critical care), section 2
39. Peri-operative medicine
40. Management of head injuries
Part V. And Finally …:
41. Anaesthetic aphorisms
Index

Neville Robinson, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow
Neville Robinson was appointed a consultant anaesthetist in 1987. He has co-authored/edited some eleven books primarily aimed at teaching, six book chapters, and some thirty papers, including those related to metabolic stress, patient satisfaction, sepsis in obstetrics, and more recently, a new airway, the Tulip. He was the recipient of the Evelyn Baker Award (AAGBI) in 2008. He is a Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCA) assessor and is on the national MMBRACE committee. He is a past RCA College tutor and teaches on several courses aimed at passing the RCA examinations.

George Hall, St George's Hospital, London
George Hall was a Professor of Anaesthesia in the University of London from 1989 to 2013. He has authored/edited twelve books and written over two hundred papers as well as many book chapters. He was a member of the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Anaesthesia for thirty years and Chairman for seven years. He was also an editor of Anesthesia and Analgesia for ten years. A dedicated teacher, he has received awards from medical students for his excellence in instructing in anaesthesia.

William Fawcett, Guildford Hospital
William Fawcett has run and taught on courses in the UK, Europe and the US. He has produced over 130 publications including three text books, fourteen textbook chapters, five review articles and two major editorials. He is an Editor for the British Journal of Anaesthesia Education, and a National Assessor and chapter writer for MBBRACE-UK. He is an executive committee member and website editor for the World Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Society.