2021 Curriculum learning syllabus: stage 3 special interest areas

Published: 25/02/2021

Paediatric Anaesthesia

  • Group 1: 6 months to 1 year

Learning outcomes

For a district general hospital anaesthetist with a regular commitment to children’s anaesthesia:
  • Provides safe perioperative anaesthetic care for a wide variety of paediatric procedures performed in the district general hospital environment independently
For the paediatric specialist in a tertiary centre, additionally:
  • Provides safe perioperative anaesthetic care for a wide variety of complex paediatric (including neonates) surgery and other procedures independently
  • 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

For those intending to practice and potentially lead paediatric anaesthesia in a non-tertiary setting:

A

Provides safe anaesthesia in both the emergency and elective setting utilising techniques to reduce anxiety in all ages including premature babies

B

Delivers safe perioperative care to all paediatric patients requiring surgery in a district general setting, including those with complex co-existing disease

C

Can gain arterial, intraosseous, peripheral and central vascular access in children and babies

D

Uses a wide range of analgesic strategies perioperatively including simple regional techniques for surgeries routinely performed in a district general hospital setting

E

Manages massive transfusion in children

F

Explains NHS policy for the provision of paediatric services
For those intending to practice in a tertiary paediatric setting (in addition to above):

G

Delivers safe perioperative care to all paediatric patients requiring surgery in tertiary paediatric setting including those with complex co-existing disease

H

Uses a wide range of analgesic strategies perioperatively for complex paediatric patients requiring major surgery

Examples of evidence

Experience and logbook:
  • experience of a wide range of paediatric cases in an elective and emergency setting including paediatric trauma, emergency surgery and procedures such as laryngotracheobronchoscopy
  • experience of neonatal anaesthesia
  • resuscitation and stabilisation of the critically ill child
Supervised Learning Events (SLEs) can be used to demonstrate:
  • preoperative assessment including planning for induction of anaesthesia
  • premedication and management of the anxious child
  • neonatal anaesthesia including neonatal laparotomy
  • management of post-operative analgesia in different age groups of child
  • transfer and handover of the postoperative child to PICU
  • indications and the practice of venous access in children
  • regional anaesthesia in children
Personal Activities and Personal Reflections may include:
  • national and international meetings related to paediatric anaesthesia such as APAGBI annual meeting
  • presentation at relevant meeting eg abstract or free paper
  • development of guidelines and policies
  • leadership of QI projects related to paediatric anaesthesia
  • leadership training
  • simulation training such as: Positive Outcome and Experience Management Strategies (POEMS), Managing Emergencies in Paediatric Anaesthesia (MEPA), Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS)
Other evidence:
  • satisfactory MSF.

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
  • Pain