Fentanyl

Fentanyl vial

A cornerstone of anesthesia, Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid offering profound analgesia and hemodynamic stability. Its primary danger is rapid-onset respiratory depression and chest wall rigidity. Meticulous dosing and continuous respiratory monitoring are critical to prevent life-threatening complications.

Continue reading

Epsilon Amino Caproic Acid (EACA)

Epsilon Aminocaproic Acid

Epsilon Amino Caproic Acid is a fundamental antifibrinolytic agent used to stabilize clots and reduce bleeding in high-risk surgical and trauma patients. While highly effective, its use requires careful patient selection, vigilant monitoring for thrombosis and renal dysfunction, and dose adjustment in renal impairment.

Continue reading

IV Giving Sets & Burettes

IV-giving-set

In anesthesia, IV giving sets are lifelines, not just tubes. The anesthesiologist selects them deliberately—from standard sets to rapid infusers—for precise fluid and drug delivery. The burette provides critical control for small-volume needs, especially in pediatrics, ensuring meticulous management of the patient’s hemodynamic state.

Continue reading

Syringes

In anesthesia, syringes are precision instruments where size dictates function. The anesthesiologist’s choice—from a 1 mL syringe for potent drugs to a 20 mL for epidural placement—is a deliberate decision ensuring accurate dosing, correct pressure, and fundamental patient safety.

Continue reading

Neuromuscular Transmission (NMT) Monitor

NMT monitor

For anesthesiologists, the NMT monitor is an essential safety tool. It provides objective data to precisely manage muscle relaxation, ensuring complete reversal before extubation. This prevents postoperative residual weakness, safeguards the airway, and is fundamental to modern patient safety in the operating room.

Continue reading

STOP-BANG Questionnaire

Doctor asking history of STOP BANG

The STOP-BANG questionnaire is a simple, 8-question screening tool for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It identifies high-risk surgical patients, allowing anesthesiologists to plan for potential airway difficulties and postoperative respiratory complications, ensuring safer perioperative care.

Continue reading

Roizen’s Grading of Dyspnea

Grades of Dyspnea

Roizen’s Grading of Dyspnea is a clinical scale that quantifies the severity of shortness of breath. It assesses a patient’s functional limitation, from strenuous exertion to symptoms at rest, providing a vital tool for perioperative risk assessment in anesthesiology.

Continue reading

NYHA Functional Classification

NYHA Functional Classification

The NYHA Functional Classification grades the severity of heart failure based on a patient’s physical limitations. This simple, four-class scale—from no symptoms during activity to symptoms at rest—is vital for assessing disease severity, guiding therapy, and predicting outcomes.

Continue reading