At the end of the module, candidates should be able to:

• Provide appropriate care for the unconscious patient, including support / maintenance of normal homeostasis
• Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the physiology, pharmacology and biophysics of relevance to anaesthesia
• Demonstrate knowledge of the anatomy of the thorax, abdomen, head and neck as they relate to anaesthesia
• Appreciate the impact of commonly encountered pathological processes in the various species, on the conduct of anaesthesia, and be able to appropriately modify the anaesthesia in light of these
• Understand the pharmacology and clinical use of drugs used for premedication and sedation
• Understand the pharmacology and clinical use of analgesic drugs (opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, local anaesthetic agents)
• Demonstrate familiarity with commonly performed regional nerve blocks
• Understand the pharmacology and clinical use of intravenous anaesthetic drugs, and their use in total intravenous techniques
• Appreciate how a generic anaesthetic machine and vaporiser function, and be able to perform appropriate safety checks
• Understand the pharmacology of the inhalational anaesthetic agents, and how this dictates their clinical use
• Understand the functional characteristics of anaesthetic breathing systems (“circuits”)
• Understand the pharmacology and clinical use of neuromuscular blocking drugs
• Appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of intermittent positive pressure ventilation, and how this may be delivered
• Understand in general terms how the electronic monitoring systems used during anaesthesia function, and be able to interpret the information they provide
• Plan and deliver appropriate fluid therapy (including an awareness of the principles of blood transfusion) for the range of patients encountered in small animal practice
• Provide appropriate anaesthesia for specific clinical situations, for example, paediatric and geriatric anaesthesia, ophthalmological procedures, caesarean section, etc
• Appreciate the unique characteristics of small mammals, birds, reptiles and fish which may complicate the anaesthetic process
• Recognise and deal with common anaesthetic emergencies
• Review and constructively criticise current literature on the speciality, to determine its relevance to their current practice
• Utilise their understanding of Evidence Based Medicine and Decision Analysis to develop practical treatment protocols for their patients
• Review the outcomes of at least part of their clinical work, using the process of clinical audit to improve performance
• Recognise when they require support from more experience anaesthetic colleagues for a particular case.

Please download the Module Syllabus, found in the Key Information box