FRCA Curriculum – Head, neck, maxillo-facial and dental surgery

Competence Source Curriculum Description
EN_BK_01 Basic Lists specific conditions that may complicate airway management [e.g. anatomical variation; tumour; bleeding]
EN_BK_02 Basic Describes how the surgeon operating in the airway, or requiring access via the airway, complicates anaesthesia for this type of surgery
EN_BK_03 Basic Recalls/describes the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnoea and its relevance to anaesthesia [AM_BK_07]
EN_IK_04 Intermediate Recalls/describes the causes, pathophysiology and management of obstructive sleep apnoea and the surgical procedures used to treat it [Ref; AM_IK_08]
EN_BK_04 Basic Recalls/describes the specialised devices used to maintain the airway during head and neck surgery
EN_BK_05 Basic Identifies the indications for the special surgical devices used during surgery including gags, micro-laryngoscopes, oesophagoscopes and laser surgery equipment
EN_IK_08 Intermediate Describes the safe use of equipment and airways devices used for surgery on and below the vocal chords, including bronchoscopes, Venturi devices and fibre-optic scopes
EN_BK_06 Basic Describes appropriate anaesthetic techniques for common ENT and dental procedures and lists the particular difficulties that face the anaesthetist including but not exclusively: tonsillectomy, septoplasty, myringotomy, middle ear surgery, dental extractions and apicectomies
EN_BK_07 Basic Recalls/explains the principles of correct and timely recognition/management of bleeding tonsils
EN_BK_08 Basic Explains the principles of the emergency management of the obstructed airway including tracheostomy
EN_BK_09 Basic Describes the special risk of transmitting prion diseases by contamination with tonsillar tissue and explains how this risk is minimised in practice
EN_IK_01 Intermediate Explains the special requirements of anaesthesia for all common procedures encountered in specialised head and neck surgery
EN_IK_02 Intermediate Recalls/explains the principles of anaesthesia for middle ear surgery, including use of TIVA and hypotensive techniques
EN_IK_03 Intermediate Explains the principles of management of anaesthesia for major head and neck surgery and:

  • Recalls/describes the pathophysiological changes and co-morbidities associated with head and neck cancer
  • Identifies the particular requirements for acute maxillo-facial emergencies e.g. fractured mandible, intra-oral abscesses and other pathological causes of upper airway obstruction
EN_IK_05 Intermediate Recalls/describes the characteristics of the lasers used for surgery and the circumstances in which they are used
EN_IK_06 Intermediate Recalls the hazards of laser surgery
EN_IK_07 Intermediate Recalls/describes the specialised airway techniques used for laser surgery in, or near, the airway
EN_IK_09 Intermediate Explains the use of specialised imaging techniques [CT, MRI] in planning anaesthesia and surgery for head and neck surgery
EN_IK_10 Intermediate Lists the problems associated with chair dental procedures including consent, the specific needs of patients with learning disabilities, Child Protection [Cross reference paediatrics] and the Mental Capacity Act
EN_IK_11 Intermediate Explains the principles of the recognition and appropriate management of acute ENT emergencies, including bleeding tonsils, epiglottis, croup, and inhaled foreign body
EN_IK_12 Intermediate Describes appropriate emergency management of fractures of the face including le Fort fractures and fractures of the mandible
EN_IK_13 Intermediate Describes the emergency management of the obstructed airway including tracheostomy
EN_IK_14 Intermediate Recalls the indications for tracheostomy
EN_IK_15 Intermediate Describes the principles of the care of the tracheostomy
EN_IK_16 Intermediate Recalls/explains the principles of jet ventilation
EN_IK_17 Intermediate Recalls/explains the principles underlying the use of helium