As an anaesthetist you will encounter many emergency situations either as part of a resuscitation call (cardiac arrest) or unexpectedly during your anaesthetic management of a patient. You need to be confident in your use of drugs during these situations as the unexpected will occur regardless of experience. It is important to recognise when to call for help as well as being able to start appropriate treatment.

This session introduces the drugs used in the management of the following six emergency situations:

1. Simple hypotension
2. Bradycardia
3. Acute bronchospasm
4. Anaphylaxis
5. Malignant hyperthermia
6. Cardiac arrest