Crisis Management & Complications
1. Snapshot & Red-Flag Pearls
Video 1
Emergency Manuals
This video highlights the evidence supporting crisis checklists in healthcare and other high-stakes fields, offering practical tips for implementation and links to free cognitive aid resources for clinical leaders.​
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Video 2
CICO (Can't Intubate, Can't Oxygenate)
This simulation video demonstrates the step-by-step management of a CICO (Can’t Intubate, Can’t Oxygenate) scenario, emphasizing rapid decision-making, team coordination, and front-of-neck airway access techniques.
Video 3
Overview of Malignant Hyperthermia
This video provides a comprehensive overview of Malignant Hyperthermia, covering its causes, warning signs, diagnostic approach, and life-saving treatment strategies.​​​​
Stanford’s EPIC Manual is a comprehensive emergency anesthesia guide. It covers protocols for airway crises, malignant hyperthermia, LAST, and other perioperative emergencies with clear, actionable steps.
The Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States (MHAUS) video library offers expert-led demonstrations on recognizing, treating, and preparing for malignant hyperthermia, vital viewing for all anesthesia providers.
The APSF Emergency Manual Implementation Collaborative (EMIC) provides tools, templates, and guidance to help institutions implement perioperative emergency manuals, promoting safer, team-based responses to critical events.
Ariadne Labs’ OR Crisis Checklists platform offers evidence-based cognitive aids for managing critical intraoperative events, enhancing team performance, communication, and patient safety during surgical crises.
2. Lightning Algorithms (Immediate Threats)
Video 1
CICO (Can’t Intubate, Can’t Oxygenate)
This simulation video demonstrates the step-by-step management of a CICO (Can’t Intubate, Can’t Oxygenate) scenario, emphasizing rapid decision-making, team coordination, and front-of-neck airway access techniques.
Video 2
Malignant Hyperthermia​
Dr. Ebraheim’s animated video explains everything you need to know about Malignant Hyperthermia, covering its causes, symptoms, triggers, and emergency treatment in a clear, visual format.
Video 3
Recognizing and Managing Anaphylaxis
This video demonstrates how to recognize and manage anaphylaxis during anesthesia, highlighting key signs, treatment steps, and the urgency of rapid intervention in the perioperative setting.
Video 4
Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST)
This video covers the mechanism, signs, prevention, and treatment of Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST), a critical topic for anyone performing regional or local anesthesia.
Video 5
Pre-Intubation Checklist
Dr. Steve Haywood breaks down the essential pre-intubation checklist using the SOAP P-ME-E mnemonic—covering suction, oxygenation, equipment, drugs, positioning, monitors, emergency planning, and end-tidal COâ‚‚. A must-watch for safe, high-stakes intubation in critical care and emergency settings.
Ariadne Labs' Failed Airway module provides a structured, team-based approach to managing airway failure, featuring checklists, best practices, and decision-making tools to improve safety in critical scenarios.
Ariadne Labs’ Malignant Hyperthermia module offers a clear, step-by-step guide for recognizing and managing this rare anesthetic emergency, featuring cognitive aids, drug dosing, and team coordination strategies.
Ariadne Labs’ Anaphylaxis module provides a structured approach to diagnosing and managing perioperative anaphylaxis—using checklists, medications, and team-based strategies to guide rapid, life-saving interventions.
ASRA’s official guideline on Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST) outlines best practices for recognition, prevention, and treatment, an essential reference for clinicians performing regional anesthesia.
3. Intra-operative Complications
Video 1
Intraoperative Hypotension
In this episode, CRNA Desiree Chappell explores the latest evidence on intraoperative hypotension, revealing its surprising prevalence and potential harm, and emphasizing the importance of vigilant monitoring and timely intervention.
Video 2
Perioperative Arrythmias
This video covers the diagnosis and management of perioperative arrhythmias, including an action plan for treatment and common ECG inaccuracies, critical knowledge for safe anesthetic care.
Video 3
Hypercapnia
This video segment explains hypercapnia, its causes, physiologic effects, and clinical signs, highlighting its relevance in anesthesia and critical care settings.
Video 4
Anesthesia Awareness
This video introduces strategies to increase anesthesia awareness, covering patient fears, real-life cases, depth monitoring tools, and the importance of matching anesthetic depth to individual needs to avoid traumatic experiences.
Ariadne Labs’ Hypotension module provides a structured response to intraoperative hypotension, offering cognitive aids, step-by-step evaluation, and management strategies to improve patient safety during anesthesia.
Ariadne Labs’ Cardiac Arrest (PEA/Asystole) module guides teams through high-stakes resuscitation with structured algorithms, clear cognitive aids, and collaborative strategies to enhance outcomes in critical events.
Ariadne Labs’ Cardiac Arrest (VF/VT) module delivers a step-by-step framework for managing ventricular fibrillation and pulseless VT, featuring cognitive aids and team-based protocols to support rapid, effective resuscitation.
Ariadne Labs’ Hypoxia module provides a structured approach to identifying and resolving intraoperative hypoxia, emphasizing teamwork, root cause analysis, and timely interventions to restore oxygenation.
This peer-reviewed article explores the incidence, causes, and prevention of intraoperative awareness—discussing depth-of-anesthesia monitoring, risk factors, and recommended actions if awareness occurs.
4. Post-operative Complications
Video 1
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Prevention
Learn the 4 key steps to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV): assess risk, reduce contributing factors, provide preventive treatment, and plan for effective rescue therapy.
Video 2
Residual Neuromuscular Blockade
This presentation explores how residual neuromuscular blockade contributes to respiratory compromise, one of the most costly and avoidable patient safety threats. Learn about the clinical impact, risk factors, and strategies to reduce postoperative respiratory failure.
Video 3
Postoperative Delirium
This video emphasizes the urgency of recognizing postoperative delirium as a medical emergency in cardiac surgery patients, covering risk factors, diagnosis, and best practices for management and care.
Video 4
Perioperative Hypothermia
This video explains perioperative hypothermia; its definition, associated complications, and evidence-based strategies for prevention and management to improve surgical outcomes.
NYSORA’s guide to Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) covers risk assessment, prevention, and treatment strategies. It offers practical, evidence-based approaches to improve patient comfort and recovery.
This WFSA tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of residual neuromuscular blockade, exploring its causes, clinical impact, monitoring techniques, and strategies for safe reversal in the perioperative setting.
This Health in Aging resource offers expert advice on preventing and treating postoperative delirium in older adults, highlighting early recognition, risk factors, and supportive care strategies to improve outcomes.
This AORN article explores perioperative hypothermia in outpatient surgery. It discusses its risks, prevention strategies, and the importance of maintaining normothermia to enhance patient safety and recovery.