Content

The overall purpose of this checklist is for the team to ensure that the correct patient is undergoing the correct operation. Additionally, the team should assess the patient's condition and take appropriate measures, including preparations for unexpected events. The pre-anesthesia check is a so-called "do-and-verify" checklist, meaning the steps are performed and then confirmed as completed.

The following are recommended anesthesia models for elective procedures in general surgery, gynecology, urology, ENT surgery, oncology, and orthopedic procedures. Methods described here can be seen as recommendations for anesthesia techniques. Several other models are fully possible and may be just as effective as our suggestions. Local deviations and routines may occur. The proposed anesthesia model is presented in a condensed tabular format. Premedication is described using abbreviations.

In this chapter, airway management with assisted breathing, ventilation, and intubation is described in detail. Various aspects and techniques necessary to ensure and maintain an open airway are covered here.

This chapter covers general anesthesia, including its principles, induction methods, maintenance, monitoring, and recovery processes. This section describes the various components of anesthesia and its different phases.

This chapter covers general anesthesia, including its principles, induction methods, maintenance, monitoring, and recovery processes. This section describes various medications used during anesthesia, including both intravenous drugs and inhalational agents ("Inhalation Anesthetics").

This chapter describes how to administer anesthesia using volatile anesthetics. It covers various anesthetic gases, such as sevoflurane and desflurane, and how they are used. It also covers nitrous oxide and nitric oxide (NO).

This chapter reviews intravenous anesthesia agents, including their pharmacology, indications, dosing, and roles in induction and maintenance of anesthesia It details the methods for intravenous anesthesia using TIVA mode and TCI mode. It explains the application of RSI with TCI technique as well as TIVA protocols for day surgery with appropriate doses of intravenous drugs such as propofol and remifentanil. It also covers TIVA for pediatric anesthesia and the various drugs used for intravenous anesthesia.

This chapter reviews intravenous anesthesia agents, including their pharmacology, indications, dosing, and roles in induction and maintenance of anesthesia. It covers propofol, remifentanil, alfentanil, fentanyl, thiopental, and ketamine.

This chapter covers muscle relaxants in anesthesia, including types, mechanisms of action, dosing, monitoring, and reversal methods These agents are used to keep the patient completely still and to create the best possible conditions for surgery and ventilation.

This chapter provides graphical dosing charts for anesthesia agents, outlining recommended doses, administration routes, and adjustments for different patient groups. Here you will find dosage cards illustrating the dynamic dosing of anesthetics such as propofol, remifentanil, and alfentanil, as well as various dosage cards with graphical illustrations of anesthetic dosing during an operation.

This chapter briefly describes obstetric anesthesia, including epidural anesthesia for labor and spinal or general anesthesia for emergency cesarean section. It includes various drug combinations commonly used for labor epidurals and spinal anesthesia.

This chapter describes depth of anesthesia monitoring, with a review of BIS and Entropy, which are standardized methods to determine and monitor anesthesia depth during general anesthesia.

This chapter describes how to prevent nausea and the various medications that can be administered to counteract nausea associated with anesthesia and surgery.

A pacemaker generates electrical impulses to the heart in a regulated and controlled manner through an electrophysiological system that can be implanted in the body or external via transcutaneous electrodes.

Here is a description of thoracic anesthesia with sections on anesthesia for coronary artery surgery, anesthesia for lung surgery including double-lumen tube, anesthesia for patients with heart disease, and management of various types of cardiac valvular disease. It also covers GUCH and its impact on the choice of anesthesia form, as well as different types of pacemakers.

Here, circulatory failure and heart failure are described, along with monitoring and treatment using inotropic and blood pressure-raising agents. Commonly used drugs, their effects, and appropriate dosing are briefly described here.

Here, guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for both adults and children are described in accordance with the Heart-Lung Council. The graphical posters from the Swedish CPR Council are also available here, including those for airway obstruction in children.

Here, guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for children are described in accordance with the Swedish Heart-Lung Council. The graphical posters from the Swedish CPR Council are also available here, including those for airway obstruction in children.

This section describes the recommended discontinuation times (stop time) for various anticoagulants before spinal anesthesia. It outlines appropriate discontinuation times for both the insertion and removal of spinal catheters.

Here, you will find a brief description of all common medications specifically used in the ICU. This includes details on the physiological effects of the drugs and their usual dosing.

This chapter describes the medication stop times prior to surgery for various anticoagulants and NSAIDs. It includes appropriate discontinuation times for both the insertion and removal of spinal catheters. Additionally, it covers which medications should be administered preoperatively from the common medications the patient typically uses.

This section provides a brief overview of how to reverse the effects of various anticoagulants (NOACs) and thromboprophylactic medications. Reversal can be performed urgently before surgery or in cases of abnormal bleeding following treatment with these anticoagulants (NOACs).

Here you will find recommended therapeutic serum concentrations for a range of medications used in intensive care. The tables present the medications sorted by both generic names and brand names.

This chapter outlines common laboratory tests in healthcare, including reference values, and interpretation for clinical decision-making. This section also describes toxicological thresholds in urine or blood and cut-off levels for drug tests in urine.

Here, you will find brand names of common antibiotics in various countries, which will help when purchasing from a foreign pharmacy. Additionally, there is a French anesthesia phrasebook with translations of common medical terms used in anesthesia and sedation.

This chapter explains thrombocytopenia, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and management strategies. Various conditions with thrombocytopenia are described here, such as ITP, TTP, and HIT.

Practical patient care for the management of patients with hemophilia.

This chapter covers plasmapheresis, including its principles, indications, procedure, and clinical applications in treating various disorders. Plasmapheresis is a treatment method that removes venous whole blood and returns everything except the plasma. Relatively uncommon. Several indications where it is first-line treatment. Severely ill patients, often with multiorgan failure. The method can cause complications that need to be managed. Good to know the principles of this treatment

Fluid therapy is a fundamental part of perioperative care for surgical patients and other critically ill patients. This section describes preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative fluid management. Available crystalloid and colloid solutions are also covered. Additionally, fluid therapy for children is described.

This chapter addresses traumatic (surgical) bleeding and appropriate treatment with fluid therapy, blood components, and coagulation factors. Suggestions for fluid therapy based on different body weights and the extent of bleeding are provided.

Here, various blood components are described with a graphic illustration of how they are produced. Available procoagulant medications are also discussed.

Here, coagulation and guidelines for good hemostasis are briefly described. Antithrombotic and hemostatic medications (procoagulant medications) are discussed, with a short description of their function and proper dosing.

Viscoelastic testing, a.k.a., thromboelastography or rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM™), is a method of analyzing clot kinetics and mechanical properties to better guide the management of severe hemorrhage. This chapter explains ROTEM (Thromboelastometry), TEG, and Multiplate, focusing on their principles, clinical applications, and use in guiding hemostatic therapy. Here, graphical instruments for illustrating the entire coagulation profile in ROTEM and platelet function in Multiplate are described. Various components in ROTEM are reviewed with descriptions of different parts of coagulation, as well as normal values and therapeutic values during antithrombotic treatment as read in Multiplate.

This section provides a brief overview of how to reverse the effects of various anticoagulants (NOACs) and thromboprophylactic medications. Reversal can be performed urgently before surgery or in cases of abnormal bleeding following treatment with these anticoagulants (NOACs).

This chapter explains thrombocytopenia, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and management strategies. Various conditions with thrombocytopenia are described here, such as ITP, TTP, and HIT.

Severe cases of pulmonary embolism are characterized by hypoxia with increasing circulatory failure. Unstable hemodynamics with signs of peripheral and cerebral hypoperfusion indicate decompensation and low cardiac output (CO). Pulmonary embolism causes an acute increase in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), leading to right ventricular (RV) failure.

This chapter explains acute liver failure, including its causes, clinical presentation, diagnosis, emergency management, and treatment options. Acute liver failure is defined as progressive liver disease with encephalopathy and INR > 1.5 in a person without previously known liver disease. In the following text, the English abbreviation ALF (Acute Liver Failure) is used.

This chapter covers interstitial lung disease pneumonia, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment approaches, and prognosis. Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP) are a group of several interstitial lung diseases. Here, the most common restrictive lung diseases are presented.

This chapter outlines the structure and purpose of intensive care rounds, focusing on patient assessment, care planning, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Here, the principles of ventilator treatment for acute lung failure and severe lung failure with ARDS are described. Various ventilator settings and the treatment of severe respiratory failure are discussed. The principles of treating severe pulmonary infection are also covered. Different ventilator settings (modes) in various types of ventilators are presented, as well as CPAP, BiPAP, and High-Flow Nasal Cannula (Optiflow). Weaning from the ventilator and lung recruitment are described here.

Here, circulatory failure and heart failure are described, along with monitoring and treatment using inotropic and blood pressure-raising agents. Commonly used drugs, their effects, and appropriate dosing are briefly described here.

This chapter provides an overview of critical care medicine, covering principles, interventions, and multidisciplinary approaches to managing critically ill patients

Here, the principles of modern neurocritical care are described, with summarized sections on the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury. Disorders of salt and fluid balance in brain edema and brain injury are also covered, as well as various types of treatment, including pentobarbital sedation.

Here, severe and life-threatening infections such as sepsis and septic shock are described, including diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The selection of relevant antibiotic therapy for different types of infections, including choice of drugs and correct dosing, is covered. The sensitivity of bacteria to various antibiotics and the different mechanisms of action of antibiotics are also described.

This chapter explains COVID-19 coronavirus infection, including transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and prevention measures. The principles of ventilator treatment for COVID-19 infection are also covered, along with links to updated statistics on the number of cases globally.

This chapter explains acute kidney injury, including its causes, types, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment strategies, and prevention methods. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a sudden decrease in kidney function that happens over hours to days, leading to a buildup of waste products, electrolyte imbalances, and fluid disturbances in the body. Here, the physical principles of dialysis and methods for dialysis in an intensive care unit are described. Various methods such as CRRT with CVVHDF, ultrafiltration, peritoneal dialysis, plasmapheresis, and MARS treatment are detailed. There is also an included compendium on dialysis treatment.

Here, the physicochemical changes behind acid-base imbalances are described. You will learn about changes in acid-base status and how to assess and treat these conditions. Concepts such as anion gap, osmolal gap, and SID are covered.

This chapter describes nutrition for ICU patients. You will find a list of available enteral and parenteral nutritional solutions, as well as information on ulcer prophylaxis, constipation prophylaxis, and a nutrition calculator.

Here, the principles and techniques of extracorporeal circulation (ECMO) in severe circulatory failure are described. Cannulation and treatment methods for both veno-venous and veno-arterial ECMO are detailed.

Here, a range of acute neurological conditions are described. Guidelines for the management of status epilepticus and sudden cardiac arrest are provided. Various scales for assessing alertness and consciousness, such as the RLS scale and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), are also included.

This chapter explains organ donation, including donor criteria, ethical considerations, donation processes, and the importance of transplantation. A checklist for organ donation, along with a description of donor characteristics and the donation process, including breakpoint conversations and continued management, is provided. Both DBD and DCD are covered.

Here, you will find a brief description of all common medications specifically used in the ICU. This includes details on the physiological effects of the drugs and their usual dosing.

Here, the goals and methods for sedation of ICU patients are described. The commonly used drugs and their appropriate dosages are discussed. Various scales for assessing alertness and the degree of sedation are also presented.

Here, you will find essential calculators that simplify your work. This includes a Nutrition Calculator for calculating appropriate nutrition and a Pediatric Medication Calculator that quickly computes the correct doses of important medications for anesthetizing young children.

This chapter outlines methods for grading consciousness, including clinical scales and assessment techniques used to evaluate neurological status

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a diagnostic method that records the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex via electrodes placed on the scalp. EEG is used in neurology, neurosurgery, and intensive care medicine to diagnose epilepsy, monitor consciousness, detect encephalopathy, and evaluate the effects of sedation and anesthesia. The method is non-invasive, has high temporal resolution, and is particularly useful for detecting dynamic changes in brain function.

With ECG, one monitors pulse, heart rhythm, conduction abnormalities and ischemic events. ECG can also reflect changes in electrolyte balance with changes in potassium, magnesium, and calcium. ECG is standard monitoring during anesthesia and intensive care and provides a reliable measure of heart function. ECG can be momentary, continuous as during anesthesia, or "collected" over a longer period, known as "Holter ECG." Disturbances in the ECG are common during anesthesia, but it remains a basic safety measure in monitoring. ECG is typically interpreted using 3, 5, or 12 leads. During anesthesia, 3-lead ECG is standard, but if ST changes also need to be interpreted, a 5-lead ECG is used. Below are instructional images of ECG.

Here, medical equipment and measurements for assessing central hemodynamics are described. This includes the pulmonary artery catheter (PA catheter), PiCCO, NICO, LIDCO, and others. Normal values are presented in easily readable tables.

This chapter explains triage classification systems, outlining how patients are prioritized based on the severity and urgency of their medical condition

SBAR is a communication tool used for reporting situations in healthcare. It involves systematically reporting patients based on the Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendations for further management.

Here, you can search for the correct ICD code for registration in database registers.

This chapter describes nutritional support for critically ill patients with a focus on enteral nutrition. You will find a list of available enteral nutritional solutions, as well as information on ulcer prophylaxis, constipation prophylaxis, and a nutrition calculator.

This chapter describes nutritional support for critically ill patients with a focus on parenteral nutrition. You will find a list of available parenteral nutritional solutions, as well as information on ulcer prophylaxis, constipation prophylaxis, and a nutrition calculator.

This chapter describes nutrition for ICU patients. You will find a list of available enteral and parenteral nutritional solutions, as well as information on ulcer prophylaxis, constipation prophylaxis, and a nutrition calculator.

Here, the assessment and management of both acute and chronic pain are described. Suggestions are provided for conventional pain treatment as well as treatment with stronger medications and other invasive techniques, including nerve blocks and adjuvant therapy.

Opioid and non-opioid analgesics suitable for ICU patients are presented here, including light and medium-strength analgesics.

In this chapter, the various aspects of pediatric anesthesia are thoroughly described. Here, you will find normal physiological values as well as the correct tube sizes, appropriate medications, and correct dosages for children of different ages and weights. Practical steps for performing pediatric anesthesia with modern techniques and good safety are described here.

Here, you will find medications for pediatric anesthesia and pediatric intensive care. There is a medication calculator to quickly find the correct dosages of the drugs commonly used in pediatric anesthesia. Dosages for parenteral medications for children, such as antibiotics and analgesics, are also provided.

Fluid therapy is a cornerstone of treatment for critically ill children in intensive care. Children differ physiologically from adults by having a higher proportion of body water, a faster turnover, and a different regulation of fluid balance. These factors make them particularly vulnerable to both dehydration and fluid overload, which can have serious consequences for circulation, respiration, and metabolism.

Nutritional support for critically ill children in intensive care is a central component of comprehensive medical management and has implications for both short-term and long-term outcomes. Unlike adults, children are characterized by continuous growth and development, making their energy requirements more dynamic and their metabolic reserves limited. During critical illness, metabolism is further affected by inflammatory processes and pharmacological interventions, leading to alterations in energy expenditure, nutrient metabolism, and fluid balance.

Premedication in pediatric patients prior to anesthesia and surgery – a comprehensive guide addressing indications, pharmacological choices, routes of administration, and nursing considerations. The chapter emphasizes patient safety, perioperative security, and individualized management tailored to the specific needs of the child

This chapter covers first aid after ingestion of toxic plants, including common poisonous species, symptoms, emergency measures, and treatment strategies.
There are a large number of poisonous plants that grow wild. However, ingestion or contact rarely causes serious illness, but a few have the potential to do so. Here, some of the most common poisonous plants and the symptoms they can cause are described. Poisoning often occurs when children eat an unknown plant by mistake or out of curiosity. Toxic reactions (skin rashes - dermatitis) can also occur after direct contact with skin-irritating substances or phototoxic substances that increase photosensitivity when exposed to sunlight.

This chapter covers poisoning from smoke and gases, outlining causes, symptoms, first aid measures, emergency treatment, and prevention strategies. Poisoning from exposure to irritating gases most often occurs after fires but can also occur following chemical accidents. Smoke from fires can contain up to 60 different chemical substances that can irritate the airways and bronchi, but primarily, it is black soot that irritates the airways in connection with fires. In addition to harmful smoke during fires, the airways can be damaged by extreme heat, hot steam, toxic gases, and hypoxia.

Acute alcohol intoxication is the most common of all poisonings, with thousands of cases occurring every month. Ordinary alcohol intoxication gradually progresses into alcohol poisoning without a specific threshold. About 5% of all adult men and 2% of women are alcohol-dependent.

This chapter explains snake bites and envenomation, including types of venom, clinical features, first aid, emergency management, and treatment options.

Poisoning by Mushrooms: Symptomatology, Diagnosis, Acute Management, and Treatment Following Ingestion of Toxic Mushrooms. In the Nordic countries, approximately 10,000 different fungi grow in nature, of which only about a hundred are edible. Fungi grow not only in the soil but also on stumps and trees, on plants and other biological organisms, and many other places. The total number of species on Earth is estimated to be over a million. Fungi consist of root threads, a mycelium, and a fruiting body. It is usually the fruiting body that we refer to as a mushroom and is the part that is eaten.

Symptoms from bites and stings occur primarily in the summer when people in nature come into contact with insects, bees, ticks, jellyfish, etc. Here, the symptoms and treatment after stings and bites from mosquitoes, midges, bees, ticks, horseflies, spiders, and more are described.

Here, the management of a patient with acute poisoning is described, along with descriptions of some of the most common poisonings. The procedure for gastric lavage and the principles of administering activated charcoal are covered. Alcohol intoxication, benzodiazepine intoxication, and intoxication with antidepressant medications are also discussed.

This chapter explains drug overdose, its signs and symptoms, first aid measures, emergency management, and strategies for prevention. A range of different drugs and narcotics are described. This includes descriptions of cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, new psychoactive substances (NPS), and synthetic cannabinoids.

This chapter explores marine toxicology, including toxic marine animals, envenomation, poisoning symptoms, first aid, and treatment approaches. Exposure to a range of marine species such as jellyfish, corals, and venomous fish are described. Most venomous fish are found in southern countries, but along the western coast, the common scorpionfish can cause painful stings.

The premedication follows fixed routines in the nursing department/operating ward and is usually given according to a predetermined schedule taking into account age and weight. There are a variety of drugs that are used in the premedication, but the main principle is that these should be painrelieving and anxiolytic.

This chapter describes the essential elements of the preoperative assessment of a patient before anesthesia as well as guidelines for preoperative fasting. Preoperative assessment, guidelines for intake of solid food, medications that should also be given on the day of surgery and choice of anesthetic methods (anesthesia plan) for various surgical interventions are presented here.

In this chapter there are suggestions for recommended wake-up times after surgery in a postoperative ward as well as criteria for discharge. NEWS and a key for diagnosis registration are included.

Blockade of individual nerves to the scalp, as opposed to infiltration in the incision line. Described originally in 1986 as “scalp block” for use in awake craniotomy

Here, the techniques and indications for epidural anesthesia (EA/Epi) are described. Suitable drugs and combinations of drugs for surgical anesthesia and analgesia for pain relief via epidural anesthesia are also covered. Considerations for epidural anesthesia in relation to the use of anticoagulants are discussed. Complications of epidural anesthesia and management of post-dural puncture headache, as well as Knudsen's test for identifying cerebrospinal fluid leakage, are also included.

Here, the techniques and indications for spinal anesthesia are described. Suitable drugs and combinations of drugs for surgical anesthesia via spinal anesthesia are also covered, with a quick reference guide detailing drug choices and appropriate dosages for different procedures. Considerations for spinal anesthesia in relation to the use of anticoagulants are discussed. Complications of spinal anesthesia and the management of post-dural puncture headache, as well as Knudsen's test for identifying cerebrospinal fluid leakage, are also included.

Here, a range of nerve blocks with local anesthetics for surgical anesthesia are described. Techniques using ultrasound, videos and images of anatomical landmarks and underlying structures are included. Appropriate choices of local anesthetics with suggested dosages are also discussed.

Here, local anesthetics and the various products available on the Swedish market are described. Indications and appropriate dosages can be found in tables. Toxic reactions and the management of acute toxicity are discussed. Maximum doses of local anesthetics for adults and maximum doses for children based on body weight for different products are also detailed.

This section describes the recommended discontinuation times (stop time) for various anticoagulants before spinal anesthesia. It outlines appropriate discontinuation times for both the insertion and removal of spinal catheters.

Acute trauma life support is characterized by a quick and well-structured securing of the patient’s vital parameters in a team effort. The work is led by a team leader in collaboration with other staff from the emergency department, ortopedic surgeon and anesthesia personnel.

Cooling in an environment with low ambient temperature and/or prolonged exposure where we cannot protect ourselves or produce enough heat to maintain a core temperature of 37°C leads to hypothermia. The medical definition of accidental hypothermia is a body temperature of 35°C or lower.

Exogenous heat stroke is a life-threatening condition caused by external heat stress in combination with impaired thermoregulation. The condition is characterized by a core temperature ≥ 40 °C and neurological symptoms, and particularly affects individuals exposed to physical exertion, high humidity, or thermoregulatory-impairing medications. Prognosis is highly dependent on early diagnosis and the rapid initiation of active cooling, preferably within the first hour. Treatment aims to lower body temperature and prevent complications such as shock, coagulopathy, organ failure, and sepsis-like syndromes.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is increasingly recognized as a valuable adjunct in intensive care, where critically ill patients often present with life-threatening hypoxic conditions. By delivering 100% oxygen under elevated atmospheric pressure, HBO enhances oxygen availability, modulates inflammation, and improves host defense mechanisms. This chapter highlights its role in two of the most clinically relevant indications: carbon monoxide poisoning, where HBO accelerates elimination of carboxyhemoglobin and prevents neurological damage, and necrotizing fasciitis, where it serves as an adjunct to surgery and antibiotics to reduce mortality and tissue loss.

Here, ultrasound of the heart—echocardiography—is described. The chapter covers, both in words and illustrations, the various views used with ultrasound to obtain a clear image of the heart's pumping function. It also includes the integrated examination FATE (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma).

This chapter explains the Extended FAST (eFAST) ultrasound exam for trauma cases, covering its principles, technique, indications, and diagnostic value. Here, an overview of performing ultrasound on acute patients is described, including examination of the thorax and abdomen. The expanded examination for acute trauma cases, known as eFAST, is also covered.

In this chapter, ultrasound of the lungs and thorax is described, including pleural sliding, A-lines, B-lines, and pleural effusion.

This chapter explains midline venous catheters, including their indications, insertion methods, care practices, and strategies to prevent complications.

An arterial catheter is inserted to monitor continuous invasive blood pressure and to obtain frequent blood samples. It allows for repeated measurement of blood gases and arterial acid-base status. Typically, arterial catheters are used in critically ill patients, those with unstable hemodynamics, and patients with respiratory difficulties requiring ongoing blood gas monitoring.

This chapter covers peripheral venous catheters, including indications, insertion techniques, care guidelines, and complication prevention.

This chapter covers central venous catheters, including indications, insertion techniques, maintenance, and prevention of complications