General Anaesthesia Flashcards
What is the purpose of a pre-operative assessment for general anaesthesia?
To determine if patients are fit for a specific operation
This includes assessing co-morbidities, anaesthesia risk, frailty status, and cardiorespiratory fitness.
What are the key components of a pre-operative history for general anaesthesia?
- Past medical problems
- Previous surgery
- Previous adverse responses to anaesthesia
- Medications
- Allergies
- Smoking
- Alcohol use
- Pregnancy considerations in women of childbearing age
- Cardiorespiratory fitness and weight
Which pre-operative investigations are recommended by NICE guidelines for patients with known or possible cardiovascular disease?
- ECG
- Echocardiogram
What pre-operative investigations may be required for known or possible respiratory disease?
- Lung function tests
- Arterial blood gas testing
What is the significance of HbA1C testing in pre-operative assessments?
To assess blood glucose control in patients with known diabetes (within the last 3 months)
HbA1C is a key indicator for diabetes management.
What pre-operative tests may be necessary for patients at risk of acute kidney injury?
- U&Es (Urea and Electrolytes)
- FBC (Full Blood Count) if possible anaemia, cardiovascular, or kidney disease is suspected
What is the ASA scale used for in pre-operative assessments?
To classify the physical status of patients prior to undergoing anaesthesia
ASA stands for American Society of Anesthesiologists.
What are the three main components of the triad of general anaesthesia?
- Hypnosis
- Muscle Relaxants
- Analgesics
List the phases of general anaesthesia.
- Induction
- Maintenance
- Emergence
- Recovery
What are the five minimum standards of monitoring during general anaesthesia?
- 3 lead ECG
- Oxygen saturation
- Non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP)
- Capnography — End tidal CO2 (ETCO2)
- Airway pressure
Why is preoxygenation important before starting general anaesthesia?
To increase oxygen reserves and prolong time to desaturation during apnoea
This is due to reduced functional residual capacity (FRC) under anaesthesia.
What is the purpose of the triple airway maneuver during general anaesthesia?
To manage loss of airway reflexes and tissue relaxation under anaesthesia
The maneuver includes head tilt, jaw thrust, and mouth opening.
What are potential complications during general anaesthesia?
- Awareness
- Anaphylaxis
- Regurgitation and Aspiration
- Airway obstruction and Hypoxia
- Laryngospasm
- Cardiovascular instability
- Cardiac arrest
What are the Guedel planes of general anaesthesia?
- 1: Analgesia and amnesia
- 2: Delirium to unconsciousness
- 3: Surgical anaesthesia
- 4: Apnoea to death
Fill in the blank: The return of spontaneous breathing and airway reflexes occurs during the _______ phase of general anaesthesia.
Emergence
True or False: Pre-operative assessment includes evaluating a patient’s alcohol use.
True
What strategies can be employed to prevent complications during general anaesthesia?
- Depth of Anaesthesia Monitoring
- Eye Care
- Temperature Management
- Care for pressure areas
- VTE prophylaxis
- Correct positioning
- Fasting before the operation
