Core Program (All Residents) : Saudi Board Anesthesia Curriculum
Core Program (All Residents) : Saudi Board Anesthesia Curriculum
Core Program (All Residents) : Saudi Board Anesthesia Curriculum
This is the core program for all residents in the Saudi Anesthesia Program. It is covered over a
period of two years and repeated once during the five-year training program.
The Core Program aims to provide a series of interactive talks that cover topics of general
anesthesia specialty and different subspecialties including pain, pediatric anesthesia as well as
regional anesthesia. It also covers topics in critical care medicine, clinical pharmacology,
principles of physics, measurements, and monitoring.
Each topic is described by specific objectives that should guide the speakers to meet the
general/specific objectives of the course. These objectives are not to limit the discussion but
rather provide minimal requirements to cover the topic.
The talks are focused on the concepts and principles of the topics of discussion and aimed to be
interactive rather than didactic, whenever it is possible.
By the end of the interactive lecture, the resident will be able to:
Explain the physical principles of monitors in OR, including O2, CO2, inhalation
agents, temperature, invasive and noninvasive blood pressure monitoring,
including arterial pressure, central venous pressure and pulmonary artery
pressure
Explain the principles of electrical safety in OR and common sources of hazards,
e.g. fires, burns, electrical shock, explosions, power failure
Explain methods and types of patient protection
Identify the main components of an anesthesia machine and check anesthetic
machine functioning and common defaults
Understand the principles of vaporizers, types, factors affecting its function, and
possible hazards
Explain the gas laws, hospital gas supplies sources and storage
Recognize all updates in anesthesia circuits and its clinical uses
Identify the indications for monitoring particular variables, and for the choice of
particular methods
Recognize when a change in a variable is significant
Identify errors and describe how random and systemic errors arise
By the end of the interactive lecture, the resident will be able to:
Understand the principles of applied pharmacodynamics and
pharmacokinetics of anesthetic drugs
Describe indications and techniques of monitoring (clinical and nonclinical) of
the following groups of drugs or topics:
o Inhalation anesthetic agents
o Intravenous anesthetic agents
o Narcotics and analgesics
o Local anesthetics
o Neuromuscular agents
o Cardiovascular supporting agents
o Anesthesia drugs overdose, physiological and pathological effect
o Genetics and drugs, physiological and pathological effect
o TIVA, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics principles, clinical effect,
monitoring
By the end of the interactive lecture series, the resident will be able to:
Be familiar with principles of anesthesia complications and blood disorders (e.g.
hemolytic diseases, coagulation disorders)
Apply principles of preoperative optimization methods.
Apply pharmacological and nonpharmacological principles of common clinical
conditions (e.g. diabetes mellitus, hypertension, IHD, COPD, elective and
emergency cases)
Be familiar with principles of anesthesia and allergy, diagnosis, management,
investigations, and follow-up
Describe principles of IV fluid management, electrolyte and acid–base
disturbances
Recognize the anesthetic principles of metabolic and endocrine emergencies,
assessments and management
Recognize the principles of anesthesia concerns for burn and plastic surgeries,
pain, and fluids management
Apply the principles of anesthesia for cardiac patients for noncardiac surgery,
assessment, and management
Recognize MH pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management
By the end of the interactive lecture, the resident will be able to:
Apply principles and concerns of anesthesia for ENT and laser surgeries
Recognize principles and types of anesthesia for ophthalmic surgery, anatomy,
types of blocks and possible complications
Recognize principles and common complications of anesthesia for urology
patients
Be familiar with principles and concerns of anesthesia for multitrauma patients
Recognize principles and concerns of anesthesia for vascular surgery
Be familiar with principles of high-risk pregnancies, physiological and
pathological changes, and fetal care
Apply principles of anesthesia management and risks of nonobstetric surgery
during pregnancy
By the end of the interactive lecture, the resident will be able to:
Apply the principles of mechanical ventilation in ICU, indications and
complications
Recognize the diagnosis and managements of common pulmonary diseases in
ICU, pathophysiology and managements (e.g. asthma, COPD, bronchitis,
emphysema, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia)
Outline the principles of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), indications and
possible complications
Recognize types, pathophysiology of shocks and its management
By the end of the interactive lecture, the resident will be able to:
Apply principles of anesthesia for neonates and premature infants surgical
emergencies
Recognize principles of anesthesia for high-risk pediatric patients, assessment
and managements (e.g. history of recent upper respiratory tract infection,
foreign bodies, and post-tonsillectomy bleeding)
Be familiar with principles of fluid management in neonatal and pediatric
patients
Recognize the common childhood illnesses and their influence on anesthesia
Be familiar principles of ventilatory support during pediatric anesthesia, mode
of ventilation and possible complications
These sessions are run and supervised by a senior resident or fellow. Consultant
supervision occurs only if requested by the resident's organizing committee. It includes but
is not limited to:
National and international practice guidelines discussion sessions (e.g. ASA
guidelines, ESA guidelines, UK guidelines)
Case report discussion sessions