Understanding the principles of ultrasound and echocardiographic instrumentation is essential in optimizing image quality. Performing a comprehensive echocardiographic examination ensures that important pathologies are recognized. Two-dimensional and Doppler techniques have…
The most important (but often overlooked) item in the pre-use checkout of the anesthesia workstation is to have immediately available, a functioning self-inflating resuscitation bag and a full auxiliary tank…
Management of the airway is paramount to safe perioperative care. Following a series of evaluation procedures affects outcomes in a favorable way. The anatomically complex airway undergoes growth and development…
The purpose of monitoring equipment is to augment the situational awareness of the anesthesiologist by providing clinical data either more rapidly than can be achieved manually or more precisely than…
The Henderson–Hasselbalch equation describes the relationship between pH, PaCO2, and serum bicarbonate. The Henderson equation defines the previous relationship but substitutes hydrogen concentration for pH. The pathophysiology of metabolic alkalosis…
At equilibrium, the CNS partial pressure of inhaled anesthetics equals their arterial partial pressure, which in turn equals their alveolar partial pressure if cardiopulmonary function is normal. The inspired concentration…
The inadequate relief of postoperative pain has adverse physiologic effects that can contribute to significant morbidity and mortality, resulting in the delay of patient recovery and return to daily activities….
When treating myocardial ischemia, decreasing O2 demand is more important than modifying O2 supply. Intraoperative ischemia is usually silent and is not usually accompanied by hemodynamic changes. Slow rate, small…
Perioperative blood component therapy accounts for at least 23% of transfusions. Blood must not only be maintained as a fluid in normal circulation, but also be capable of forming a…
The most crucial component of infection prevention is frequent and effective hand hygiene. The ideal hand hygiene agent kills a broad spectrum of microbes, has antimicrobial activity that persists for…
