Anesthesia Student Survival Guide.pdf - Index of

Anesthetic Techniques: General,
Sedation, MAC
Brian C. McLean and Anthony R. Plunkett
Chapter 12
For maximum impact, it is recommended that the case study and questions found
on page xxiii are reviewed before reading this chapter.
Key Learning Objectives
● Learn how to prepare for the different phases of an anesthetic
● Understand the continuum of sedation
● Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different anesthetic techniques
The Anesthesiologist and the Airline Pilot
A common analogy compares the job of an anesthesiologist to that of an airline
pilot. This analogy is fitting in that each professional is charged with peoples’
lives – failure to perform the job appropriately and consistently can result in
death or injury of those in their care. This analogy is also fitting because in
doing their job, each professional must faithfully perform a set of key steps.
Preflight Check
The preflight check is performed prior to the pilot allowing any passengers
onto the plane. This preflight check is analogous to the preanesthetic setup
and machine check. Both the pilot and anesthesiologist must ensure that their
equipment is ready and in optimal operating conditions – before patients or
passengers are allowed to board or enter into the operating room.
J.M. Ehrenfeld et al. (eds.), Anesthesia Student Survival Guide: A Case-Based Approach,
DOI 10.1007/978-0-387-09709-1_12, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010
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