Anaesthesia & Critical Care Pathways
16 pathways
Work through 16 interactive anaesthesia & critical care decision pathways — branching, guideline-grounded workflows that take you from presentation to assessment, risk stratification and management. Each pathway cites its source (NICE, ESC, AHA and specialty guidance), embeds the relevant calculators, and makes escalation and safety-netting explicit. For decision support only — apply clinical judgement and local protocols.
- Rapid Sequence Induction (RSI)RSI checklist — drugs, equipment, positioning, and failed intubation drillDAS 2015 / AAGBI
- ICU Sedation and AnalgesiaBundle-based approach to sedation, analgesia, and delirium in ICU — ABCDEF bundleSCCM / NICE CG83
- Vasopressor Escalation in ShockRational vasopressor selection and dose escalation in septic/distributive shockSurviving Sepsis Campaign 2021
- Tracheostomy ManagementTracheostomy insertion, tube changes, and emergency management in ICUNTSP / ICS guidelines
- Difficult Airway Algorithm (DAS)DAS 2015 unanticipated difficult intubation — Plans A→B→C→D, optimise on each attempt, declare 'CICO' early.DAS 2015; Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Anaphylaxis Under AnaesthesiaRecognise (cardiovascular > cutaneous), 100% O₂, adrenaline IV titrated, fluid bolus, identify trigger, NAP6 reporting.AAGBI 2018; NAP6
- Malignant HyperthermiaRecognise rising ETCO₂ + hyperthermia + masseter spasm during anaesthesia; STOP triggers, dantrolene, supportive care.AAGBI 2011; MHAUS
- Local Anaesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST)Recognise CNS + cardiac toxicity, immediate lipid emulsion (Intralipid), modified ALS.AAGBI 2010; ASRA 2017
- Spinal Anaesthesia Hypotension ManagementSympathetic blockade → hypotension; phenylephrine first-line in obstetric, ephedrine if bradycardic; IV fluids + positioning.AAGBI; ASA
- Postoperative Nausea & VomitingApfel score, multimodal prophylaxis, rescue antiemetics from different drug class.Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia 2020; AAGBI
- Surviving Sepsis Bundle (Adult ICU)1-hour bundle (SSC 2021): lactate, cultures, antibiotics, fluid, vasopressor; reassess perfusion + lactate trend.Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2021; NICE NG51
- Brainstem Death TestingAOMRC 2008 — preconditions, exclusion of confounders, 6 cranial nerve tests + apnoea test, 2 sets, 2 doctors.AOMRC 2008; FICM 2024
- Major Haemorrhage ProtocolActivate MHP, balanced 1:1:1 ratio, TXA, identify + treat source, monitor.NICE NG24; UK MHP guidelines
- ICU Delirium ManagementPADIS bundle, CAM-ICU screening, non-pharmacological + pharmacological (avoid benzodiazepines).PADIS Guidelines 2018; ICS
- Refeeding SyndromeNICE CG32 — recognition of high-risk patients, slow reintroduction, monitor + replace electrolytes (P, K, Mg), thiamine.NICE CG32 (2006, updated 2017)
- Pre-op Fasting + ERASModern fasting (clear fluids 2h, solids 6h), carbohydrate drinks, ERAS principles for elective surgery.AAGBI; ERAS Society 2019