76082 - Anestesiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, students will have acquired basic knowledge of anesthesia and resuscitation techniques.

Course contents

1. Principles of Anesthesiology

• The role of the anesthesiologist in perioperative care.
• Principles of general, regional, and local anesthesia.
• Indications, contraindications, and potential complications of the main anesthetic techniques.
• Basic patient monitoring.

2. Patient Assessment and Risk Management

• Essential preoperative assessment.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification.
• Vital signs assessment and early recognition of clinical deterioration.
• Principles of patient safety.

3. Management of Medical Emergencies in the Podiatry Clinic

• The ABCDE approach.
• Recognition and initial management of common medical emergencies:
  • syncope;
  • hypoglycemic crisis;
  • allergic reactions and anaphylaxis;
  • seizures;
  • chest pain;
  • dyspnea.
• Activation of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (112).

4. Basic Life Support

• Principles of Basic Life Support (BLS).
• The Chain of Survival.
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED): indications and principles of use.
• Foreign body airway obstruction.

5. Pain Management

• Pathophysiology of acute pain.
• Pain assessment using validated pain scales.
• Principles of pharmacological pain management.
• Local anesthetic techniques used in podiatric procedures.

6. Emergencies Related to Podiatric Procedures

• Hemorrhage and bleeding control.
• Complications of local anesthesia.
• Infections and infection prevention.
• Principles of asepsis and antisepsis.

Readings/Bibliography

Teaching materials provided during the lectures constitute the primary resource for the course. For further study and in-depth coverage of the topics addressed, students are encouraged to consult the following textbooks:

• Butterworth J.F., Mackey D.C., Wasnick J.D. Morgan & Mikhail's Clinical Anesthesiology. 7th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education, 2022.
• Pardo M.C., Miller R.D. Basics of Anesthesia. 8th Edition. Elsevier, 2022.

Teaching methods

The course is delivered through interactive lectures designed to provide students with the fundamental principles of anesthesiology and first aid as applied to podiatric practice.

Teaching activities are complemented by the discussion of clinical cases and the analysis of scenarios involving the most common medical emergencies that may occur in the outpatient setting, with the aim of developing students' ability to recognize critical conditions promptly and to activate the emergency medical system appropriately.

Assessment methods

The assessment consists of an oral examination, which may include the discussion of simple clinical scenarios, and is designed to evaluate:

• knowledge of the fundamental principles of anesthesia and pain management;
• the ability to recognize the most common medical emergencies that may occur in the outpatient setting;
• knowledge of the ABCDE approach, the principles of Basic Life Support (BLS), and the appropriate activation of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS);
• the ability to apply the knowledge acquired to the initial management of patients in emergency situations.

Assessment is based on the accuracy and completeness of the knowledge acquired, the appropriate use of scientific terminology, the student's clinical reasoning skills, and their ability to apply patient safety principles.

The final grade is expressed on a 30-point scale (out of 30).

Teaching tools

The course makes use of both traditional and digital teaching resources to support theoretical learning and facilitate the application of knowledge to professional podiatric practice.

Office hours

See the website of Fabrizio Monaco