Resource Library

An overview of the use of high flow nasal oxygen therapy in anaesthesia and critical care. The article covers the mechanism of high flow oxygen and its physiological benefits. Some proposed uses of high flow nasal oxygen are described including...

This article will briefly review mitochondrial biology, mitochondrial diseases and anaesthetic implications. This includes the preoperative assessment, intraoperative and postoperative management, and a review of the literature to assess the safety of commonly used intraoperative drugs.

Propofol infusion syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal condition associated with the use of propofol for longer term sedation in the critically ill patient. Prevention is the best form of management as there is no specific treatment other than...

In the face of an unprecedented pandemic, facemasks became part of our daily lives, and yet we know little about this seemingly low-tech piece of device. This tutorial reviews the composition of a facemask, the essential properties that offer protection...

Quadratus lumborum blocks (QLB) offer adjuvant analgesia for multiple surgeries including abdominal, orthopaedic, gynaecology and urology. QLB is a variation on a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block which is performed with a USS using the curvilinear probe. There are 4...

The COVID-19 pandemic presents the potential to encounter pregnant patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. This tutorial covers the anaesthetic management of pregnant patients with COVID-19, including an overview of effects of COVID-19 on the mother and fetus, management considerations,...

As the march of ‘globesity’ continues, bariatric surgery is becoming common. This tutorial describes some of the unique challenges faced in the perioperative care of the bariatric surgery patient, including preoperative assessment and optimization with a focus on intraoperative airway...

Paediatric Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) has lagged significantly behind their adult surgical compatriots. This article will look at the arguments for and against paediatric ERAS, discuss the multidisciplinary approach to a patient-centred model, review the progress that has been...

Advances in radiology and nuclear medicine bring numerous diagnostic and therapeutic benefits to the clinical management of patients. As such procedures become more common, it requires healthcare professionals to be cognizant of the risks and dangers. The World Health Organisation...

Vasopressin is an endogenous hormone with important roles in fluid and blood pressure homeostasis. It has a number of clinical uses because of its broad range of physiological roles including those on the cardiovascular system, fluid balance and haemostasis. Its...

In conclusion, SPB is a simple, effective and safe thoracic fascial plane block that is a valuable addition to the regional anaesthesia armamentarium of the anaesthetist and allied specialities. It still remains a relatively novel modality, and our understanding of...

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to place unprecedented demands on healthcare systems across the globe our understanding of how best to care for these patients continues to evolve and presents many fresh challenges. Here we present a systems-based, practical guide...

Most of the trauma in elderly individuals is the result of a mechanical fall. To prevent complications secondary to the injury, early surgical intervention and good pain relief is needed. A multimodal analgesic technique should be adopted while taking into...

Rib fractures are commonly encountered injuries in blunt chest trauma. The number of ribs fractured and age are predictors of complications. Respiratory failure is the major complication (atelectasis, pneumonia, pulmonary contusion). There is a high likelihood of patients requiring intubation...

Over the last 25 years there has been much improvement in cancer care for children. Advances in radiation therapy techniques (such as 3-dimensional conformal therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and proton beam therapy) and improved availability of radiotherapy centres have meant...

Although nerve injuries associated with peripheral nerve blockade (PNB) are often temporary, the potential long-term consequences of nerve injury following PNB include sensory and motor deficits, neuropathic pain, and permanent disability, with an associated decrease in a patients’ quality of...

The COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease, posing a huge burden to the health care system. In providing optimal perioperative care to patients, it is also our duty to protect health care workers and other patients from contracting the disease....

Cocaine toxicity has a myriad of end-organ complications, both in acute ingestion and chronic abuse. An appreciation for nuances of this presentation is required to provide excellent critical care. Treatment is largely supportive, but rapid control of agitation as well...

Opioids are a cornerstone of anaesthetic practice. This tutorial will discuss a common opioid side effect - Opioid-induced Hyperalgesia (OIH). OIH is a phenomenon for which we have an increasing appreciation. We will discuss its proposed mechanism, clinical relevance and,...

This tutorial is a succinct guide to current practices in patient blood management for the pediatric population. It gives practical guidelines for bleeding concerns and management in the perioperative period and emphasizes care related to massive transfusion in the pediatric...