First edition highly commended in the Anaesthesia category of the BMA Medical Book Awards.
Specifically aligned with the syllabus published by the Royal College of Anaesthetists, this second edition is an essential resource for candidates preparing for the FRCA examinations.
Fully updated and expandedThis new edition has been comprehensively revised to reflect developments in contemporary anaesthetic and critical care practice, including:
Videolaryngoscopy Modern ventilators Gas capture, decomposition and recycling
Clear, practical and highly illustratedThe book remains extensively illustrated throughout with high-quality colour photographs, reproducible line diagrams, and a clear, standardised format designed for rapid reference and effective revision.
For each major piece of equipment, the authors cover:
Clinical applications Underlying physics and mechanics Advantages and limitations Safety considerations
The engaging and concise style links equipment directly to its clinical context, helping readers develop both theoretical understanding and practical confidence.
Written by experienced cliniciansAuthored by two consultant specialists in anaesthesia and critical care, the book focuses on the knowledge and understanding required for both
safe clinical practice and success in the FRCA examination.
Particular attention has been given to subjects that are frequently overlooked or insufficiently explained in other resources, resulting in a text that is:
Comprehensive Accessible Clinically relevant Focused and practical
Suitable for a wide professional audienceIn addition to anaesthetists preparing for the FRCA, the book will also be valuable for:
Operating department practitioners Critical care staff Physicians with an interest in anaesthesia or critical care
By:
Angus Rivers BSc MBBS FRCA (BSc MBBS FRCA),
Daniel Aston (BSc,
MBBS,
MRCP,
FRCA)
Imprint: Scion Publishing Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: 2nd Revised edition
Dimensions:
Height: 244mm,
Width: 172mm,
Spine: 18mm
Weight: 1.018kg
ISBN: 9781914961472
ISBN 10: 1914961471
Pages: 408
Publication Date: 08 May 2026
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Preface to the second edition; Preface to the first edition; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations 1 Medical gases 1.1 Introduction to medical gases 1.2 Vacuum insulated evaporator 1.3 Cylinder manifold 1.4 Medical gas cylinders 1.5 Compressed air supply 1.6 Oxygen concentrator 1.7 Piped medical gas supply 1.8 Medical vacuum and suction 1.9 Scavenging 1.10 Delivery of supplemental oxygen 1.11 Nasal cannulae 1.12 Variable performance masks 1.13 Venturi mask 1.14 High flow nasal cannulae 2 Airway equipment 2.1 Introduction to airway equipment Masks, supraglottic airways and airway adjuncts 2.2 Sealing face masks 2.3 Magill forceps 2.4 Guedel airway 2.5 Nasopharyngeal airway 2.6 Bite block 2.7 Supraglottic airways 2.8 Bougies, stylets and airway exchange catheters Laryngoscopes 2.9 Direct vision laryngoscopes 2.10 Videolaryngoscopes 2.11 Fibreoptic bronchoscope Endotracheal tubes and related equipment 2.12 Endotracheal tubes 2.13 Double lumen endobronchial tube 2.14 Bronchial blocker 2.15 Airway devices for jet ventilation Infraglottic airways 2.16 Tracheostomy tubes 2.17 Cricothyroidotomy devices 2.18 Retrograde intubation set 3 Breathing systems 3.1 Introduction to breathing systems 3.2 Bag valve mask 3.3 Adjustable pressure limiting valve 3.4 Reservoir bag 3.5 The Mapleson classification 3.6 Humphrey ADE block 3.7 The circle system 4 Ventilators 4.1 Introduction to ventilators 4.2 Manley ventilator 4.3 Oxylog ventilators 4.4 Penlon Nuffield 200 ventilator 4.5 The Newton valve and mechanical thumbs 4.6 Bag in bottle ventilator 4.7 Piston ventilator 4.8 Turbine ventilator 4.9 Pneumatic intensive care ventilator 4.10 Manual jet ventilators 4.11 High frequency jet ventilators 4.12 High frequency oscillatory ventilators 5 Delivery of anaesthetic agents 5.1 Introduction to delivery of anaesthetic agents Continuous flow anaesthesia 5.2 The anaesthetic machine 5.3 Boyle’s bottle 5.4 Copper kettle 5.5 Modern variable bypass vaporizers 5.6 Direct injection vaporizer 5.7 Aladin cassette Draw over anaesthesia 5.8 Oxford miniature vaporizer 5.9 Triservice apparatus Total intravenous anaesthesia 5.10 Target controlled infusions 6 Monitoring equipment 6.1 Introduction to monitoring equipment Monitoring the machine 6.2 Pressure gauges 6.3 Flowmeters 6.4 The fuel cell 6.5 Capnograph waveforms 6.6 Infrared gas analysers 6.7 Paramagnetic oxygen analysers 6.8 Other methods of gas analysis 6.9 Oxygen failure alarm (Ritchie whistle) Monitoring the patient 6.10 Pulse oximeters 6.11 Electrocardiographs 6.12 Non-invasive blood pressure measurement 6.13 Invasive blood pressure measurement 6.14 Temperature measurement 6.15 Pneumotachographs 6.16 Wright respirometer 6.17 Depth of anaesthesia and processed EEG monitoring 6.18 Coagulation testing: TEG and Rotem 6.19 Activated clotting time measurement 6.20 The Clark electrode 6.21 The pH electrode 6.22 The Severinghaus electrode 6.23 Jugular venous oximetry 6.24 Monitoring of neuromuscular blockade 6.25 Near-infrared spectroscopy and monitoring of cerebral oxygen saturations Miscellaneous monitoring 6.26 Hygrometers 7 Filters and humidifiers 7.1 Introduction to filters and humidifiers 7.2 Passive humidification and HMEs 7.3 Active humidification 7.4 Filters 8 Regional anaesthesia 8.1 Introduction to regional anaesthesia 8.2 Nerve stimulators 8.3 Nerve stimulator needles 8.4 Spinal needles 8.5 Epidural needles 8.6 Epidural catheters 8.7 Loss of resistance syringe 8.8 Luer and non-Luer connectors 8.9 Sub-Tenon's set 9 Critical care Intravenous lines 9.1 Intravenous cannulae 9.2 Central venous catheters 9.3 Other vascular access devices Monitoring 9.4 Incentive spirometry 9.5 Doppler cardiac output monitors 9.6 Pulmonary artery catheters 9.7 Other cardiac output monitors 9.8 Intra-abdominal pressure measurement 9.9 Intracranial pressure measurement Extracorporeal circuits 9.10 Renal replacement therapy in critical care 9.11 Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation 9.12 Cardiopulmonary bypass Miscellaneous 9.13 Feeding tubes 9.14 Infusion pumps 9.15 Rigid neck collars 9.16 Rapid fluid infusers 9.17 Defibrillators 9.18 Intra-aortic balloon pumps 9.19 Ventricular assist devices 10 Surgical equipment relevant to anaesthetists 10.1 Diathermy 10.2 Chest drains 10.3 Lasers 10.4 Arterial tourniquet 11 Radiological equipment 11.1 Introduction to radiological equipment 11.2 X-rays 11.3 Ultrasound 11.4 MRI and compatible equipment 12 Miscellaneous 12.1 Electricity and electrical safety 12.2 Electrical symbols 12.3 Cardiac pacemakers 12.4 Implantable cardiovertor defibrillators 12.5 Decontamination of equipment 12.6 The Wheatstone bridge 12.7 Regulation and standardization of medical devices 12.8 Intraosseous needles 12.9 Cell salvage Index
Reviews for Equipment in Anaesthesia and Critical Care, second edition: A Complete Guide for the FRCA
""This book is excellent. I have read a number of equipment related books and found most of them stale and filled with minutia. Instead this fresh look at equipment really makes it interesting to read and keeps your attention. With sections that give quick answers to how things work, advantages and disadvantages, in an easy to read format you get exactly what you want to know RIGHT away. In addition the full color photos and well done charts really add to the depth of this book.It is my opinion this may be one of the best books on the market for quick review of anesthesia and critical care equipment. Let's be honest, no one is sitting at home reading equipment books for pleasure so when you NEED the information you likely need it right away. This book does exactly that; easy format, clear and concise information with everything you need to know about a piece of equipment easy to find and within a page or two. I would recommend this to all trainees in anesthesia but also for those providers who like to be prepared in the operating room to deal with any issue that might arise."" -- www.nurse-anesthesia.org
