Anesthesia Mnemonics

A

Anesthesia machine/room check: MS MAID

• Monitors (EKG, SpO2, EtCO2, etc)
• Suction
• Machine check (according to ASA guidelines)
• Airway equipment (ETT, laryngoscope, oral/nasal airway)
• IV equipment
• Drugs (emergency, inductions, NMBs, etc)
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

E

Endotracheal intubation: diagnosis of poor bilateral breath sounds after intubation: DOPE

• Displaced (usually right mainstem, pyreform fossa, etc.)
• Obstruction (kinked or bitten tube, mucuous plug, etc.)
• Pneumothorax (collapsed lung)
• Esophagus
  • Author: Marc Colbeck

G

General anaesthesia: equipment check prior to inducing: MALES

• Masks
• Airways
• Laryngoscopes
• Endotracheal tubes
• Suction/ Stylette, bougie
  • Author: Steve Gust HMO, Gove District Hospital, NT Australia

S

Spinal anesthesia agents: “Little Boys Prefer Toys”

• Lidocaine
• Bupivicaine
• Procaine
• Tetracaine

• • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

X

Xylocaine: where not to use with epinephrine: “Nose, Hose, Fingers and Toes”

• ­ Vasoconstrictive effects of xylocaine with epinephrine are helpful in providing hemostasis while suturing. However, may cause local
• ischemic necrosis in distal structures such as the digits, tip of nose, penis, ears.
  • Author: Robert Lueken Eastern Virginia Medical School