*Extracted from comprehensive anesthesia notes.*

Preparatory Mindset

Focus on: physiologic effects of anesthesia, drug mechanisms, airway management, and complication recognition. Exam questions often test classification systems (ASA, airway assessment) and complication management.

Core Concepts

Acute Pain

• • Duration: Short-term, resolves with healing.


• • Cause: Tissue injury, surgery, disease; nociceptive only.


• • Subtypes:


• o Somatic: Superficial/deep, well-localized.


• o Visceral: Internal organ pain, vague, referred; nausea/vomiting common.


• • Duration: >3 months, persists beyond healing.


• • Types: nociceptive, neuropathic (nerve dysfunction: burning, lancinating), mixed.


• • Causes: Musculoskeletal disease, neuropathy, nerve injury, cancer, central lesions (stroke, MS).

• • Scales: NRS (0–10), VAS, Wong-Baker FACES, McGill Pain Questionnaire.

Benign Pain

• • Local anesthetics + steroids, TENS, acupuncture, nerve decompression.

1. Step 1: Mild pain → NSAIDs, paracetamol.

2. Step 2: Moderate pain → weak opioids (codeine, tramadol).

3. Step 3: Severe pain → strong opioids (morphine, slow release).

• • Adjuvants: Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, steroids.


• • Neurolysis: Alcohol/phenol blocks (celiac plexus, intrathecal) for terminal patients.

• • Multimodal Analgesia: Combine NSAIDs + opioids + regional blocks (epidural, nerve block,


• wound infusion).


• • Benefits: Reduces opioid use/side effects, speeds recovery, improves satisfaction.


• • ERAS: Multidisciplinary care to minimize stress and pain.

High-Yield Points

• ASA classification is a must-know for exam


• Understand differences between general vs regional anesthesia


• Complications and their management are frequently tested


• Know the Mallampati score and airway assessment criteria