Newer teaching-learning methods and assessment modules in anaesthesia education.

The National Medical Commission in its recent guidelines has stated that postgraduate training in anaesthesiology should have clear objectives and be competency based. This means that the existing teaching-learning (TL) methods need a major face-lift. E-learning and blended learning including learning management systems, virtual classrooms, app-based learning, flipped classroom, podcasts, webinars, web-based collaborative education, reflective feedback, problem-based discussions and mentorship are some newer TL methods that can be adopted. Simulation can help teach technical and non-technical skills such as leadership, teamwork and communication. In line with TL methods, newer assessment methods have to be applied to revolutionise postgraduate anaesthesia education. Formative assessment and assessment of clinical skills are important and to do this, workplace-based assessment methods such as mini-clinical evaluation exercise, direct observation of procedural skills, multisource feedback, logbook and E-portfolio can be applied. Objective structured clinical examination, simulation-based assessment and E-assessment are other useful evaluation methods.

Postoperative anaesthetic concerns in children: Postoperative pain, emergence delirium and postoperative nausea and vomiting.

The incidence of anaesthetic complications in children is much more than in adults and sometimes with a severe outcome. Patients under one year of age, those with co-morbidities and posted for emergency surgery are at increased risk for morbidities. Sources of information on the risk involved come from institutional audit, closed claim analysis, and large-scale studies of cardiac arrest. A strategy for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), emergence delirium (ED) and postoperative pain should be a part of every anaesthetic plan. A planned multimodal approach should be opted consisting of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic prophylaxis along with interventions to reduce the baseline risks. The literature in this subject is reviewed extensively to give comprehensive information to postgraduate students about the current understanding of postoperative anaesthetic concerns. Relevant articles from Pub med, review articles, meta-analysis, and editorials were the primary source of information for this article.

The Difficult Paediatric Airway: Two Cases of large Cystic Hygroma.

This is a report of a two cases of difficult intubation experienced in paediatric surgical cases. Both the infants, aged one and three-month-old respectively, had very large cystic hygroma of the neck area. Prior hematological and radiological investigations (USG and CT scan of the swelling) and preanaesthesia check up was done and cases were posted for surgical excision. Case I had difficult airway due to pressure of the tumour/cystic hygroma over the airway and posed difficulty for intubation, but was managed well. Case II had respiratory distress during preoperative period. She had been postponed for surgical excision of the cystic hygroma of neck twice due to the difficulties experienced during intubation. Needle aspiration of hygroma fluid helped to reduce the respiratory distress, and the size of the tumour as well, which further helped in the smooth intubation after a week. The postoperative period was uneventful in both the infants.

Congenital fibroepithelial polyp: a case report of difficult airway.

A 9 month old child presented with a growth in the oropharynx for removal. Only complaint was distressed breathing on crying. It turned out to be a case of difficult paediatric airway that was managed well. A diagnoses of oesophageal fibro-epithelial polyp was made after histopathological examination.