Textbook of Anaesthesia has become the book of choice for trainee anaesthetists begining their career in the specialty. It is highly suitable for part 1 of the Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and similar examinations. It is also a practical guide for all anaesthetists and other health care professionals involved in the perioperative period.

General principles of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. Inhalational anaesthetic agents. Intravenous anaesthetic agents. Local anaesthetic agents. Analgesic drugs. Muscle function and neuromuscular blockage. Sedative and anticonvulsant drugs. Drugs acting on the cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems. Drugs acting on the respiratory system. Drugs used in renal disease. Basic physics for the anaesthetist. Clinical measurement. Anaesthetic apparatus. The operating theatre environment. Preoperative assessment and premedication. The practical conduct of anaesthesia. Local anaesthetic techniques. Monitoring. Complications during anaesthesia. Metabolism, the stress response to surgery and perioperative thermoregulation. Fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance. Bleeding disorders and blood transfusion. Intercurrent disease and anaesthesia. Postoperative care. Postoperative pain. Postoperative nausea and vomiting. Day case anaesthesia. .Emergency anaesthesia. Anaesthesia for gynaecological and genitourinary surgery. .Anaesthesia for orthopaedic surgery. Anaesthesia for ENT, maxillofacial and plastic surgery. Anaesthesia for ophthalmic surgery. Dental anaesthesia. Anaesthesia outside the operating theatre. Obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia. Pediatric anaesthesia. Anaesthesia for endocrine and vascular surgery. Neurosurgical anaesthesia. Anaesthesia for thoracic surgery. Anaesthesia for cardiac surgery. Management of chronic pain. Appendices: Clinical trials and statistics. Clinical data