Anaesthesiology Knowledge Base

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Domain Distribution

🧠

Cognitive Domain

The "Why" — Pathophysiology, Evidence, Guidelines

Organ system physiology
Pharmacokinetics / Pharmacodynamics
2024–2025 guidelines
Risk stratification tools
Pathophysiology of complications

✋

Psychomotor Domain

The "How" — Skills, Techniques, Monitoring

Airway and regional techniques
Monitoring setup and interpretation
Drug titration protocols
Crisis procedure execution
Point-of-care ultrasound

❤️

Affective Domain

The "Who" — Communication, Leadership, Advocacy

Crisis Resource Management (CRM)
Team communication (SBAR, CUS)
Patient-centered care
Shared decision-making
Debriefing and resilience

📌

Core Anaesthesia Modules

6 modules

General Anaesthesia

Core principles of GA conduct including induction, maintenance, emergence, and crisis recognition.

Pharmacology RSI Vigilance

Regional Anaesthesia

Peripheral nerve blocks, neuraxial techniques, ultrasound guidance, and block selection.

Anatomy US-guided Patient comfort

Airway Management

Basic to advanced airway techniques, supraglottic devices, videolaryngoscopy, and extubation.

Anatomy Videolaryngoscopy Confidence

Difficult Airway Management

2025 DAS/AIDAA guidelines, "Code D", CICO management, scalpel-bougie cricothyroidotomy.

Algorithms eFONA Crisis leadership

ACLS

Advanced Cardiac Life Support, 2025 PeRLS guidelines, perioperative cardiac arrest management.

Algorithms CPR Team leadership

Pain Medicine

Acute and chronic pain management, multimodal analgesia, regional techniques, opioid stewardship.

Pharmacology Assessment Empathy

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Surgical Specialty Modules

5 modules

ENT Anaesthesia

Shared airway, HFNC (2025 Chinese consensus), jet ventilation, specialized ETTs, laser surgery safety.

Shared airway HFNC Team communication

Laparoscopic Anaesthesia

Pneumoperitoneum pathophysiology, CO₂ embolism, subcutaneous emphysema, lung-protective ventilation.

Physiology PPV/SVV Crisis leadership

Orthopaedic Anaesthesia

VTE risk (Caprini score), LAT (1.8/1000), BCIS, FES, POCD, WALANT, anticoagulation management.

VTE risk WALANT Patient advocacy

TURP in High-Risk Patients

Obesity, COPD, smoking history, TURP syndrome, fluid monitoring, lung-protective ventilation.

TURP syndrome Fluid balance Multidisciplinary

Cardiac for Non-Cardiac Surgery

2024 ACC/AHA guidelines, risk stratification, medication management, MINS, intraoperative monitoring.

Guidelines PPV/SVV Shared decision-making

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Monitoring Modules

5 modules

Respiratory Monitoring

Pulse oximetry physics, capnography waveforms, sources of error, advanced technologies (thermal imaging, ML).

Physics Waveform analysis Vigilance

Cardiac Monitoring

ECG, ST segment analysis, hemodynamic monitoring, arterial waveform, CVP, SVV/PPV, AI hypotension prediction.

Electrophysiology Arterial line Alarm fatigue

ABG Monitoring

Acid-base physiology, stepwise interpretation, mixed disorders, delta gap, pre-analytical errors, POCT.

Henderson-Hasselbalch Arterial puncture Clinical correlation

Neuromuscular Monitoring

TOF, PTC, DBS, objective monitoring (AMG/EMG), calibration, reversal pharmacology, RNMB prevention.

Physiology TOF measurement Safety commitment

Temperature Monitoring

Thermoregulatory physiology, hypothermia consequences, measurement sites, active warming, MH management.

Physiology Probe placement Vigilance

⚠️

Complications Management Modules

6 modules

GA Complications

Respiratory (hypoxemia, laryngospasm), cardiovascular (hypotension, arrhythmias), MH, anaphylaxis.

Pathophysiology Dantrolene Crisis leadership

Regional Complications

LAST (1.8/1000, lipid emulsion), nerve injury, pneumothorax, ASRA 2025 anticoagulation guidelines.

LAST mechanisms Lipid emulsion Speaking up

Positioning Complications

Nerve injuries (16% of ASA claims), pressure injuries (50% originate in OR), POVL, WLCS, ocular injuries.

Anatomy Padding Shared responsibility

Orthopaedic Complications

VTE, LAT, BCIS, FES, POCD, anticoagulation, paediatric nerve injury (10% motor deficits), WALANT safety.

BCIS/FES Caprini score Patient advocacy

Geriatric Complications

Frailty (15–48%, OR 4.11 delirium), POCD (22% reduction with EEG), polypharmacy, PK/PD changes.

Frailty EEG guidance Patience

Laparoscopic Complications

Pneumoperitoneum effects, CO₂ embolism, subcutaneous emphysema, PPCs, C-STAT team activation.

Pathophysiology C-STAT Crisis leadership

👥

Special Population Modules

9 modules

Paediatric Anaesthesia

Developmental physiology, age-appropriate pharmacology, COLDS score for PRAEs (AUC 0.92).

Physiology Mask induction Family-centered

Paediatric Foreign Body Bronchus

Flexible vs rigid bronchoscopy (1.29 vs 2.19 complications), ventilation strategies, oxygen enrichment.

Airway anatomy Inhalational induction Crisis leadership

Obstetric Anaesthesia

Maternal physiology, labour analgesia, EA/CSE/DPE, PIEB, complications, TeamBirth communication.

Physiology Neuraxial TeamBirth

Labour Analgesia

Labour pain physiology, neuraxial techniques (EA, CSE, DPE), pharmacology, timing (ACOG), PIEB.

Pain pathways Epidural placement Patient autonomy

LSCS — Elective & Emergency

Category 1–4 urgency, hypotension prevention (phenylephrine vs norepinephrine), AIDAA 2025 failed intubation.

Urgency RSI Crisis leadership

Eclampsia

Magnesium sulfate (4–6 g load, 1–2 g/hr, therapeutic range 4.9–8.5 mg/dL), toxicity, antihypertensives.

Magnesium DTR assessment Code Eclampsia

NORA (Non-OR Anaesthesia)

Remote locations, site-specific hazards, MAC sedation, capnography, cognitive aids, C-STAT activation.

Site-specific Portable monitoring Adaptability

Geriatric Anaesthesia

Age-related changes, frailty screening, POCD prevention, EEG guidance, medication management.

Physiology Frailty screening Dignity

Obesity, COPD & Smoking

Respiratory pathophysiology, smoking cessation (27% complication reduction), lung-protective ventilation.

Pathophysiology Ramped positioning Patient partnership

🚑

Emergency & High-Risk Modules

3 modules

Emergency Laparotomy

Bowel obstruction with hypertension, "drip and suck", hypokalemia (thiazide + vomiting), RSI, chain of command.

Pathophysiology K⁺ correction Chain of command

Emergency Laparotomy in Hyperglycaemia

BG 250 mg%, VRIII (50U/50mL, target 140–180), K⁺ shifts, hypoglycaemia (6% incidence), insulin infusion.

VRIII Insulin titration Speaking up

High-Risk Cardiac for Non-Cardiac Surgery

2024 ACC/AHA, valvular disease, pulmonary hypertension, congenital heart disease, multidisciplinary planning.

Guidelines Monitoring Shared decision-making

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Preoperative Assessment

1 module

Preanaesthetic Assessment & Investigations

ASA classification, NICE/NIHCE 2025 guidelines, RCRI, ARISCAT, GUCHA, frailty screening (FRAIL, AD8).

Risk stratification History-taking Shared decision-making

🔍

Quick Reference by Clinical Scenario

🫁 Airway Emergencies

Difficult Airway Management
Paediatric Foreign Body Bronchus
ENT Anaesthesia (Shared Airway)
Respiratory Monitoring (Capnography)

❤️ Cardiac Crises

ACLS / PeRLS 2025
Cardiac Monitoring
Cardiac Risk (Non-Cardiac Surgery)
GA Complications

🤰 Obstetric Emergencies

Eclampsia
Emergency LSCS
Obstetric Anaesthesia
Labour Analgesia

🧠 Regional Complications

LAST Management
Orthopaedic Complications
Positioning / Nerve Injuries
Neuromuscular Monitoring (TOF)

🧪 Metabolic Emergencies

Hyperglycaemia / VRIII
Magnesium Toxicity (Eclampsia)
Malignant Hyperthermia (GA Complications)
ABG Analysis

👶 Paediatric

Paediatric Anaesthesia
Foreign Body Bronchus
PRAEs — COLDS Score
Temperature Monitoring

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Module Completion Summary

Category	Count	Modules Included
Core Anaesthesia	6	GA, Regional, Airway, Difficult Airway, ACLS, Pain
Surgical Specialties	5	ENT, Laparoscopic, Orthopaedic, TURP, Cardiac Non-Cardiac
Monitoring	5	Respiratory, Cardiac, ABG, Neuromuscular, Temperature
Complications	6	GA Complications, Regional Complications, Positioning, Orthopaedic Complications, Geriatric, Laparoscopic
Special Populations	9	Paediatric, Paediatric Foreign Body, Obstetric, Labour Analgesia, LSCS, Eclampsia, NORA, Geriatric, Obesity/COPD
Emergency / High-Risk	3	Emergency Laparotomy (×2 variants), High-Risk Cardiac
Preoperative Assessment	1	Preanaesthetic Assessment
TOTAL	35	33 Complete + 2 Index

🧭

How to Use This Knowledge Base

🏥 Daily Clinical Practice

Preoperative — Start with Preanaesthetic Assessment for risk stratification
Intraoperative — Select the relevant surgical module (ENT, Laparoscopic, etc.)
Monitoring — Refer to specific monitoring modules (Respiratory, Cardiac)
Complications — Access the appropriate complications module if issues arise
Postoperative — Post-Operative Ward Care and Pain Medicine

🎓 For Teaching

Each module contains cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains for comprehensive education
Use the "Daily Integration Prompt" at the end of each module for structured reflection
Simulation scenarios are embedded within psychomotor skills sections

📝 Exam Preparation

Focus on 2024–2025 guideline updates highlighted throughout
Review risk stratification tools in each surgical module
Practice waveform interpretation in monitoring modules
Master crisis algorithms in complications and emergency modules

📈

Integration Quality Summary

Module	Cognitive	Psychomotor	Affective	Score
Airway Management	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★	94%
Difficult Airway	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	96%
ACLS	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	95%
Preanaesthetic Assessment	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	98%
Regional Anaesthesia	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★	92%
General Anaesthesia	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Pain Medicine	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	92%
ENT Anaesthesia	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Laparoscopic	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	91%
Orthopaedic	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
TURP	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	91%
Cardiac Non-Cardiac	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Respiratory Monitoring	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Cardiac Monitoring	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
ABG Monitoring	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Neuromuscular Monitoring	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	91%
Temperature Monitoring	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
GA Complications	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	91%
Regional Complications	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	91%
Positioning Complications	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Paediatric Anaesthesia	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Paediatric Foreign Body	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	91%
Obstetric Anaesthesia	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Labour Analgesia	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
LSCS	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Eclampsia	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
NORA	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Geriatric Anaesthesia	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Obesity / COPD	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Emergency Laparotomy	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★★	91%
Hyperglycaemic Emergency	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Geriatric Complications	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%
Orthopaedic Complications	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	91%

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Recent Updates

Date	Module	Update
2026-03-25	Index	Created master index with 33 modules
2026-03-24	Paediatric Foreign Body	Added 2025 flexible vs rigid bronchoscopy evidence
2026-03-23	Preanaesthetic Assessment	Added NICE/NIHCE 2025 guidelines
2026-03-22	TURP	Added obesity/COPD/smoking module
2026-03-21	Hyperglycaemic Emergency	Added VRIII and hypoglycaemia protocols
2026-03-20	Emergency Laparotomy	Added chain of command and CUS tools

📖 The Complete "Architect" Approach