My simple understanding of anesthesiology

[WashMe]

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I'm an MS3 interested in anesthesiology and I've been trying to simplify my approach to learning it. I like mnemonics and I've modified some of the classic ones:

Anesthesia operative tasks/goals (8 "A's"). I feel like patients will be happy if all these aspects are considered, although some aren't always needed:
- anxiolysis
- anesthesia
- akinesia
- airway management
- analgesia
- autonomic reflex suppression
- amnesia
- antiemesis

Drug Considerations (10 more "A's"). I think these are the 10 main things to consider, but I might be forgetting something. It seems like a good exercise to run down this list and determine if the patient needs any/all of these.
- antecedents (i.e. home meds)
- antibiotics
- antithrombotics
- anxiolytics
- antacids
- anesthetics
- akinetics
- analgesics
- ANS drugs
- antiemetics

There are 4 very general ways an anesthesiologist can intervene, and I think this is the first thing that will run through my mind when a complication arises.
- drugs
- fluids
- ventilation modification
- hands-on (e.g. defibrillation, patient repositioning, airway modification)


I'm no expert; help me expand/correct these lists, and come up with other helpful lists!

 

[Mman]

I admire your enthusiasm but think it is mostly unneeded. Only mnemonic I ever bothered with was MS MAID or (S&M MAID if you are feeling kinky) for setting up the OR in the morning.

Anesthesiology is a complex field that deals with the interaction of patient's comorbid conditions combined with their surgical procedure. In your shoes, I'd worry more about learning medicine and pediatrics and surgery and all the rest of the basics.

 

[PedsAnesMD]

I admire your enthusiasm but think it is mostly unneeded. Only mnemonic I ever bothered with was MS MAID or (S&M MAID if you are feeling kinky) for setting up the OR in the morning.
.

I learned SSDAMMIT= Suction, Stethoscope, Drugs, Airway, Machine, Monitors, IV, Tape as my mnemonic.

 

[WashMe]

I admire your enthusiasm but think it is mostly unneeded. Only mnemonic I ever bothered with was MS MAID or (S&M MAID if you are feeling kinky) for setting up the OR in the morning.

Anesthesiology is a complex field that deals with the interaction of patient's comorbid conditions combined with their surgical procedure. In your shoes, I'd worry more about learning medicine and pediatrics and surgery and all the rest of the basics.

Thanks for the comment. I understand what you're saying, but I can't focus on that other stuff all the time. It's too easy to get burnt out, so I always make time for the stuff I like. I usually put in an hour per day studying anesthesiology, regardless of what else I have going on. It keeps my physio and pharm fresh, and makes me remember why I'm going through all this stuff 😉

I learned SSDAMMIT= Suction, Stethoscope, Drugs, Airway, Machine, Monitors, IV, Tape as my mnemonic.

I like it! Thanks

 

[PMPMD]

Made an addition:

I'm an MS3 interested in anesthesiology and I've been trying to simplify my approach to learning it. I like mnemonics and I've modified some of the classic ones:

Anesthesia operative tasks/goals (9 "A's"). I feel like patients will be happy if all these aspects are considered, although some aren't always needed:
- anxiolysis
- anesthesia
- akinesia
- airway management
- analgesia
- autonomic reflex suppression
- amnesia
- antiemesis
- ACCESS (IVs, central lines, etc - right up there with airway in terms of importance)

Drug Considerations (10 more "A's"). I think these are the 10 main things to consider, but I might be forgetting something. It seems like a good exercise to run down this list and determine if the patient needs any/all of these.
- antecedents (i.e. home meds)
- antibiotics
- antithrombotics
- anxiolytics
- antacids
- anesthetics
- akinetics
- analgesics
- ANS drugs
- antiemetics

There are 4 very general ways an anesthesiologist can intervene, and I think this is the first thing that will run through my mind when a complication arises.
- drugs
- fluids
- ventilation modification
- hands-on (e.g. defibrillation, patient repositioning, airway modification)


I'm no expert; help me expand/correct these lists, and come up with other helpful lists!

 

[PMPMD]

You could also replace "Antibiotics" with "Ancef" and it would be correct 99% of the time.

 

[btbam]

You could also replace "Antibiotics" with "Ancef" and it would be correct 99% of the time.

Surgeon: Can you give some nafcillin?
Me: We don't have that in our cart, I'd have to call for it.

Surgeon: *blank stare*, uhh 2g of ancef is fine.

 

[WashMe]

You could also replace "Antibiotics" with "Ancef" and it would be correct 99% of the time.

Surgeon: Can you give some nafcillin?
Me: We don't have that in our cart, I'd have to call for it.

Surgeon: *blank stare*, uhh 2g of ancef is fine.

haha 🙂

 

[epidural man]

Surgeon: Can you give some nafcillin?
Me: We don't have that in our cart, I'd have to call for it.

Surgeon: *blank stare*, uhh 2g of ancef is fine.

I gave myself nafcillin once. That stuff hurts!