84435 - Anaesthesiology and Pain Management

Learning outcomes

Describe the pathophysiological basis of pain, and identify the clinical presentation of acute and persistent pain syndromes or conditions. Describe the basic principles of evaluation and management of acute and chronic pain. Describe the physiological and pharmacological basis of anesthesia. Discuss the indications and contraindications of general, local and regional anesthesia.

Course contents

1. Introduction to Anesthesiology

• The role of the anesthesiologist in perioperative medicine.
• Principles of anesthesia, analgesia, and sedation.
• Patient safety and quality of perioperative care.

2. Physiology and Pharmacology of Anesthesia

• Physiological responses to anesthesia and surgery.
• Pharmacology of general anesthetic agents, opioids, neuromuscular blocking agents, and reversal drugs.
• Local anesthetics: mechanisms of action, pharmacology, and toxicity.

3. General, Regional, and Local Anesthesia

• Principles, indications, contraindications, advantages, and limitations of:
  • General anesthesia.
  • Local anesthesia.
  • Regional anesthesia, including peripheral nerve blocks and neuraxial techniques (spinal and epidural anesthesia).
• Selection of the appropriate anesthetic technique according to patient characteristics and surgical procedures.

4. Pain Physiology and Pathophysiology

• Neurophysiological mechanisms of pain perception.
• Pathophysiology of acute and chronic pain.
• Classification of pain syndromes.
• Mechanisms of peripheral and central sensitization.

5. Clinical Assessment of Pain

• Clinical presentation of acute and persistent pain conditions.
• Pain assessment using validated measurement scales.
• Multidimensional evaluation of pain.
• Impact of pain on function and quality of life.

6. Principles of Pain Management

• Multimodal analgesia.
• Pharmacological management of acute and chronic pain:
  • non-opioid analgesics;
  • opioids;
  • adjuvant analgesics.
• Regional analgesia techniques.
• Non-pharmacological approaches to pain management.
• Principles of postoperative pain management and the role of the Acute Pain Service (APS).

7. Perioperative Patient Management

• Preoperative assessment and optimization.
• Standard intraoperative monitoring.
• Airway management.
• Post-anesthesia care and recovery.
• Prevention and management of common perioperative complications.

8. Current Perspectives in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

• Evidence-based approaches to anesthesia and pain management.
• Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) principles.
• Patient-centered perioperative care.
• Multidisciplinary management of patients with acute and chronic pain.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture slides and teaching materials provided by the instructor constitute the primary learning 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.
• Gropper M.A., Eriksson L.I., Fleisher L.A., Cohen N.H., Leslie K., Johnson-Akeju O. (Eds.). Miller's Anesthesia. 10th Edition. Elsevier, 2024.

Students are also encouraged to consult current international guidelines and selected scientific literature, including publications from:

• European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC)
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)
• International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

Recommended Scientific Journals

• Anesthesiology
• British Journal of Anaesthesia
• European Journal of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care
• Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
• Pain
• Anaesthesia

Teaching methods

Interactive lectures designed to provide students with a solid understanding of the physiological and pharmacological principles of anesthesia and pain management.

Teaching activities are complemented by the discussion of clinical cases and the analysis of perioperative and pain management scenarios, with particular emphasis on patient assessment, the selection of anesthetic techniques, and the evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic pain.

Multimedia teaching resources, including presentations, clinical algorithms, and selected scientific literature, are used throughout the course to facilitate the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms and evidence-based clinical practice.

The course promotes an evidence-based medicine (EBM) approach, encouraging the integration of basic science with clinical reasoning and fostering a multidisciplinary approach to perioperative care and pain management.

Assessment methods

Assessment consists of an oral examination, which may include the discussion of clinical cases, and is designed to evaluate the achievement of the course learning outcomes.

Teaching tools

The course is supported by a range of traditional and digital teaching resources designed to facilitate learning and promote the integration of theoretical knowledge with clinical practice.

Office hours

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