Take an AMPLE history
Allergies
Medications
Past Medical History (to include previous GAs and a review of anaesthetic charts)
Last meal/drink
Events leading up to current presentation
Assess Airway
Look - Facial hair, deformities
(overbite/underbite, prominent teeth etc)
Examine: Thyromental distance, Sternomental distance, Mouth opening (fingers)
Mallampati
Obstructing features
Neck flexion/extension
Assess Breathing
Look - Colour, work of breathing, use of accessory muscles
Listen - Wheeze, stridor
Look - Colour, work of breathing, use of accessory muscles
Listen - Wheeze, stridor
Auscultate - Breath sounds
Investigations – SpO2, CXR, Lung function tests, ABG
Assess Circulation
Exercise tolerance - stairs, hills, SoB at rest
History - chest pain, palpitations, syncope
Examine - JVP, peripheral oedema, heart sounds, BP, HR, ECG
Assess Disability
GCS
Mini Mental State
Pupil reaction and size
Review Investigations
Blood tests - Hb, biochemistry, platelets/INR