Book Description

Training in anaesthetics, for practitioners, such as Nurses, Paramedics, Anaesthetic Technicians, and Perioperative Practitioners, is mostly of a practical nature. The theoretical aspects of anaesthesia are not, in the main, part of anaesthetic practitioner training, even though an understanding of such theoretical issues is expected, both by registration bodies, and by patients. This book helps to fill the gap between practice and theory, by presenting a glossary of terminology and concise definitions of many anaesthetic and related subjects, along with key scientific concepts which describe, among other things, what effects an anaesthetic regime has on a patient's physiology. Over 1,100 definitions and explanations are given for such diverse topics as Airway pressure Awake intubation CEPOD classifications Checking anaesthetic machines Arterial blood gases Difficult airway algorithms Drug bioavailability Heart failure Hypovolaemia Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation Minimum Alveolar Concentration Oxygen toxicity Rapid sequence induction Regional anaesthesia Respiratory failure Shock Properties of volatile agents Additionally, the appendices include detailed descriptions of some of those practical matters which form part of the core skill set of the anaesthetic practitioner. After mastering the contents of Glossary of Anaesthetics, the reader will be much better equipped to understand and communicate many of the principles of anaesthesia and, as a consequence, will become a safer and more confident professional.