Physiology of red and white blood cells
Abstract Blood is made up of plasma and formed elements, which are red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The red blood cells (erythrocytes) make up the vast majority…
Cardiac output monitoring
Abstract Cardiac output monitoring has become commonplace amongst the standard monitoring in anaesthesia for major surgery and in intensive care. Multiple techniques are used, employing different models to calculate flow,…
Physiology of haemostasis
Abstract Haemostasis is a complex process that ensures the maintenance of blood flow under normal physiological conditions and prevents major blood loss following vascular injury. The process is tightly regulated…
Ethics of pregnancy testing in patients undergoing anaesthesia and surgery
Abstract A patient’s pregnancy status should be determined prior to undergoing any procedure which has the potential to cause harm to a pregnant mother or fetus. Anaesthesia and surgery, alongside…
Clinical aspects of coagulation and haemorrhage
Abstract Haemorrhage affects all patient groups. Coagulopathy (an abnormality of the clotting system) is closely interlinked with haemorrhage and can either place patients at risk of future bleeding or can…
Anaesthesia for patients with sickle cell disease and other haemoglobinopathies
Abstract Sickle cell disease is an autosomal recessive multi-systemic blood condition, caused because of a mutation in chromosome 11 resulting in production of abnormal β globin of haemoglobin or HbS….
Strategies to avoid intra-operative blood transfusion
Abstract Transfusion of donor blood is sometimes unavoidable during the surgical episode. However, it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, whilst interventions that reduce the need for donor transfusions…
Pre-optimization of the anaemic patient
Abstract Anaemia affects a significant number of preoperative patients and has independently been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Identification, assessment, and treatment of preoperative anaemia is now widely accepted…
Iron metabolism
Abstract Iron – like most micronutrients – is not synthesized by the human body and is acquired from dietary sources. Total body iron (approximately 3000–5000 mg) is chiefly regulated by varying…
Acute respiratory failure in a patient with diffuse ground-glass opacities during the COVID-19 pandemic
History of present illness A 78-year-old woman arrived in the emergency department (ED) due to a dry cough, worsening dyspnea, and fever. Before that ED visit, the general practitioner placed…
