2021 Curriculum learning syllabus: stage 3 special interest areas

Published: 25/02/2021

Anaesthesia for Bariatric Surgery

  • Group 2: 3 to 6 months

Learning outcomes

  • Provides safe perioperative airway and anaesthetic care independently for patients undergoing bariatric surgery
  • Is capable of leading the delivery of care in this area of anaesthetic practice, to the benefit of both patients and the organisation

Key capabilities

A

Provides risk stratification to patients with obesity related co-morbidity on their peri operative risk profile

B

Describes the pathophysiology and anaesthetic implications of different sleep disordered breathing conditions

C

Describe methods of testing and be able to interpret and act on the results of sleep studies

D

Demonstrate techniques to prolong safe apnoea time, and techniques for managing the difficult airway in the patient requiring bariatric surgery

E

Provides safe anaesthesia and ventilation strategies for all main weight loss surgical procedures

Examples of evidence

Experience and logbook:
  • experience of a range of bariatric surgical procedures
  • pre-operative assessment of patients planned for bariatric surgery including use of different risk scoring systems and indications for further investigation.
Supervised Learning Events (SLEs) can be used to demonstrate:
  • assessment and management of cases with high BMI including those undergoing obesity surgery
  • understanding of the different factors relevant to airway management in these patients
  • evaluation of sleep studies and their impact on the perioperative management including indications for referral
  • assessment and management of complications associated with high Body Mass Index (BMI) such as OSA and VTE management
  • use of TIVA in management of bariatric patients including discussion of the different models involved.
Personal Activities and Personal Reflections may include:
  • national and international meetings related to anaesthesia for bariatric surgery and specialist societies
  • presentation at relevant meeting eg abstract or free paper
  • development of guidelines and policies related to management of patients with high BMI
  • leadership of QI projects related to patients with high BMI undergoing surgical procedures
  • leadership training.
Other evidence:
  • satisfactory MSF.

Suggested supervision level

  • 4 - should be able to manage independently with no supervisor involvement (although should inform consultant supervisor as appropriate to local protocols).

Cross links with other domains and capabilities

  • all generic professional domains of learning
  • Perioperative Medicine and Health Promotion
  • General Anaesthesia