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Postoperative Care (PACU)

• Monitoring for emergence delirium, pain, nausea/vomiting
• PONV (Postoperative Nausea & Vomiting): Apfel score; prophylaxis with ondansetron, dexamethasone
• Postoperative pain management: multimodal analgesia (opioids, NSAIDs, acetaminophen, nerve blocks)
• Criteria for PACU discharge (Aldrete score)

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Special Topics

• Pediatric anesthesia: anatomical differences (large occiput, short trachea, higher O₂ consumption), weight-based dosing
• Obstetric anesthesia: physiological changes of pregnancy, epidural labor analgesia, cesarean section anesthesia
• Cardiac anesthesia: understanding of hemodynamic goals for valvular/ischemic disease
• Fluid management: crystalloids vs. colloids, goal-directed therapy

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Key Takeaways for Students

1. Master airway management — it saves lives
2. Know your drugs: onset, duration, reversal
3. Understand ASA classification and preop risk stratification
4. Recognize and manage anesthetic emergencies
5. Appreciate the physiology underlying every drug and technique

Anesthesiology is deeply rooted in physiology and pharmacology — students who excel are those who understand the why behind every intervention, not just the what.

Anesthesiology