Anaesthesia Nursing

Module 1: Emergent populations and current guidelines 

• Anaesthetising the brachycephalic animal
• Anaesthetising the obese animal
• Anaesthesia for ophthalmology
• Anaesthesia for interventional cardiology cases
• Current American Animal Hospital guidelines on anaesthesia of dogs and cats
• Calculations in fluid therapy and analgesia

Key Learning Objectives: 

At the end of this module delegates should be able to:

•  List the components of the brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS)
•  Outline the additional complicating factors of anaesthetising the BOAS patient and demonstrate ways of managing the anaesthetic
• Consider the difficulties in anaesthetising the obese patient and outline techniques to overcome these difficulties
• Describe the reasons why corneal damage may occur during anaesthesia
• Compare and contrast the different techniques for creating a ‘central eye’
•  Explain the concepts of neuro-muscular blockade
•  Outline the physiological basis of the ‘oculo-cardiac reflex’ and what steps should be taken if it occurs.
•  Describe the pathophysiology or patent ductus arteriosus, heart valve stenosis and bradyarrhythmias including 3rd degree AV block and sick sinus syndrome.
• Outline the considerations for anaesthesia for correction of the conditions described in L.O. 2.8
• Summarise the American Animal Hospital Association guidelines for anaesthesia of small animals.
•  Perform the relevant calculations for fluid therapy plans and blood transfusions
• Be able to calculate a continuous rate infusion from information given.

Within this live stream session, delegates will have the opportunity to refresh and revisit all anaesthesia calculations.

Module 2: Patient safety and problem solving 

Key Learning Objectives:

At the end of this module delegates should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of approaches to problem solving
• Recognise appropriate non-technical skills behaviour in themselves and others
• Discuss errors and approach to error prevention
• Describe the principles of clinical audit and standard operating procedures
• Discuss the ethical issues associated with veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia
• Demonstrate an awareness of the ethics surrounding clinical practice, experimental practice and publications.
• Formulate an approach to ethical problem solving
• Recognise the key components of obtaining anaesthetic consent
• Discuss how anaesthetic risk can be communicated to the owner
• Explain the use of anaesthetic checklists and be able to implement them in clinical practice
• Outline the benefits and limitations of anaesthetic checklists
• Recognise the key components of record keeping
• Outline the reasons for completion of the anaesthetic record
• Compare the different methods of data completion in anaesthetic records
• Predict and identify common complications in anaesthesia and recognise when to call for assistance.
• Outline the basic pharmacology of positive inotropes and vasopressors and consider the situations in which they would be used

Delegates will be asked to contribute to two journal clubs in order to critically evaluate recent articles within the subject area. 

Module 3 Farther reaching consequences of our anaesthetic choices 

• Impact of anaesthetic choices on surgical site infections
• The environmental impact of our anaesthetic choices
• Anaesthesia for the oncological patient
• Local anaesthetic technique revision
• Chronic pain

Key Learning Objectives: 

At the end of this module, delegates should be able to:

•  Critically appraise the evidence relating to the association between anaesthetic choices and surgical site infections
•  Describe the mechanisms by which propofol may contribute to surgical site infections
•  List the action points that can improve the cleanliness of the use of anaesthetic drugs
•  Describe the techniques used to quantify the environmental impact of different anaesthetic drugs and techniques
•  Compare and contrast the environmental impact of different anaesthetic drugs and techniques
•  Formulate a strategic plan to reduce the carbon footprint of your practice
•  Recognise what aspects of oncology diagnostics or treatment will require sedation or general anaesthesia
•  Outline the principles of different para-neoplastic syndromes
•  Describe the more specific peri-anaesthetic considerations for radiotherapy
•  Discuss the evidence for the impact anaesthetic choices may have on tumour metastasis
• Outline the pharmacology of local anaesthetic drugs
• Describe different local anaesthetic techniques including epidurals and justify the clinical cases in which they might be used.
• Summarise the differences between chronic pain and acute pain
• Identify the tools used to assess and monitor chronic pain
• Outline the pharmacology of different drugs to treat chronic pain

Delegates will be asked to contribute to two journal clubs in order to critically evaluate recent articles within the subject area.

​​​​​Module 4 Advanced respiratory anaesthesia 

• Evaluating spontaneous ventilation
• Spirometry
• Positive pressure ventilation
• Arterial blood gas analysis
• Acid base balance

Key Learning Objectives

At the end of this module, delegates should be able to:

• Outline the principles of spontaneous and intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV).
• Describe the techniques used to evaluate ventilation
• Define the different lung volumes and capacities
• Outline the principles of spirometry
• Identify the different shapes of flow-volume loops and the potential pathologies that they can indicate
• Recognise appropriate candidates for IPPV and be able to set basic and more advanced ventilation settings
• Outline the components of arterial blood gas analysers and describe how they work
• Describe the techniques used for collecting blood gas samples
• Identify the different basic abnormalities in acid base balance and list potential causes
• Describe potential treatments to correct abnormalities in acid-base balance
• Calculate different indices to evaluate oxygenation
• Recognise and identify abnormal electrocardiogram traces

At the end of this live session, delegate should be confident in interpreting & explaining normal and abnormal ECG traces.