Anaesthetic Management of Surgical Emergencies

ABSTRACT

Anaesthesia for surgical procedures carries some risks. These risks are accentuated when the surgical operation is performed as an emergency procedure. The value of emergency in risk stratification underscores its relevance in clinical anaesthesia. Limited time for evaluation of patient; potential fluid/electrolyte imbalance; the `full stomach' situation and probable uncontrolled pain constitute major considerations in the administration of anaesthesia for emergency surgery. This expose seeks to discuss some of the clinical scenarios that are apt to emergency anaesthesia and in particular; the associated common clinical dilemmas