Core Topics in Paediatric Anaesthesia 2nd Edition

📖 Core Topics in Paediatric Anaesthesia

Editors: Ian James, Isabeau Walker
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (2nd Edition)

📚 Overview:
This is a foundational reference for anyone involved in paediatric anaesthesia—from general anaesthetists working in non-specialist centres to trainees, fellows, or specialists. It covers the full spectrum of anaesthesia in children (from preterm infants up to teenagers), including anatomy/physiology specific to age, pharmacology, safety, perioperative care, specialty surgeries, critical illness, and legal/ethical issues.

✨ Key Features:

• Comprehensive Scope:
  Covers all critical topics: anatomy & physiology in neonates/young children; pharmacological differences; developmental psychology; consent, law, and safeguarding; common medical & congenital conditions; preoperative assessment; intraoperative care; postoperative analgesia; specialty surgical settings; ICU and transport of sick children.

• Structured & Practical:
  Each chapter has clear learning points, summarised key messages. Written by experts with practical experience. Good for both revision and reference.

• Addresses Legal, Ethical, and Safety Issues:
  Includes chapters on consent & law, safeguarding children, monitoring and equipment, drug dosing complexities, and safety in non-specialist settings.

• Focus on Specialty Contexts:
  Anaesthesia for particular types of surgery in children (ENT, neurosurgery, cardiac, orthopaedics, etc.), plus critically ill children and transport.

💡 Key Benefits:

• Great resource to bridge gap for anaesthetists who deal with children but don’t specialize in paediatrics

• Helps you anticipate age-based differences (respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic) so you can tailor anaesthesia safely

• Useful for exam preparation, especially for paediatric modules or rotations

• Good for hospital policy / guideline development (e.g. consent, safeguarding, monitoring)

🎯 Ideal For:

• Paediatric anaesthesia trainees/fellows

• General anaesthetists on rotations or in hospitals with children

• ICU / Emergency / Transport teams dealing with children

• Consultants wanting a refresher or reference

⭐ Recommendation:
If your practice involves paediatric patients (especially infants and neonates), this is one of the go-to texts. It may not have the heavy visual procedural content of an atlas (e.g. nerve blocks or ultrasound-guided injections), but it excels in covering general anaesthesia, safety, ethics, pediatrics-specific physiology, and clinical decision-making.