General Information

The Diploma in Anesthesia Technology is a two-year paramedical program designed to train students in anesthesia procedures and operation theatre management. The curriculum covers human anatomy, pharmacology, equipment handling, patient monitoring, and critical care techniques. Students acquire practical competencies through clinical training and internship, enabling them to assist anesthesiologists and surgical teams effectively during preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care phases.

1. Course Duration: 2 Years
2. Minimum Qualification: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology
3. Course Category: PARAMEDICAL
4. Total Marks: 1200 (Theory 1200, 12 subjects)
5. Examination: An examination of the subjects of each year is held at the end of that year (Part-I, Part-II …).

Course Objectives

• Provide foundational knowledge of human anatomy, pharmacology, and principles of anesthesia administration.
• Train students in the operation, calibration, and routine maintenance of anesthesia workstations and monitoring equipment.
• Develop clinical skills for assisting anesthesiologists during surgical, emergency, and critical care procedures.
• Impart rigorous training in infection control, sterilization protocols, and patient safety standards in operation theatres.

Learning Outcomes

• Assist qualified anesthesiologists safely during preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative procedures.
• Prepare, operate, and maintain anesthesia machines, ventilators, and patient monitoring devices accurately.
• Apply proper sterilization, disinfection, and infection control protocols within the operation theatre.
• Administer basic patient care and support emergency interventions under medical supervision.
• Demonstrate professional competence in managing anesthetic drugs, fluids, and specialized medical supplies.

Pass & Division Criteria

The maximum marks and minimum pass marks of Theory and Practical of each subject are given in the Mark Distribution table below. To pass, a candidate must score the minimum pass marks separately in both Theory and Practical of every subject.

The division is decided on the aggregate percentage of marks obtained, as follows —

Mark Distribution

1st Year

2nd Year

Total marks of the course : 1200

Detailed Syllabus — 1st Year

1. Introduction to Human Cell and Tissues — Covers cellular structure, organelles, cell division, classification of epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissues, and general tissue healing mechanisms.
2. Skeletal System and Articulations — Covers classification of bones, axial and appendicular skeleton, structure of major joints, cartilages, and basic physiological functions of bones.
3. Muscular System Organization — Covers major skeletal muscle groups, neuromuscular junction, sliding filament theory of contraction, muscle fatigue, and muscle tone maintenance.
4. Blood and Hemostasis — Covers blood composition, plasma proteins, red and white blood cells, platelets, ABO blood grouping, Rh factor, and coagulation cascade.
5. Cardiovascular System Anatomy and Physiology — Covers cardiac chambers, valves, coronary circulation, cardiac cycle, conduction system, cardiac output, arterial blood pressure, and pulse regulation.
6. Respiratory System Mechanics and Gas Exchange — Covers upper and lower respiratory tracts, mechanics of breathing, lung volumes and capacities, alveolar gas exchange, and neural regulation.
7. Nervous System and Sensory Organs — Covers central and peripheral nervous systems, brain anatomy, spinal cord, cranial nerves, autonomic nervous system, reflexes, and basic sensory pathways.
8. Digestive and Excretory Systems — Covers gastrointestinal tract organs, digestive secretions, liver functions, renal anatomy, nephron function, urine formation, and fluid-electrolyte balance.
9. Endocrine and Reproductive Systems — Covers major endocrine glands, hormone functions, pituitary-hypothalamus axis, homeostatic feedback loops, and basic anatomy of male and female reproductive organs.

1. Introduction and History of Anesthesia — Covers historical milestones, evolution of modern anesthesia, roles of anesthesia technicians, ethical responsibilities, and operating theater decorum.
2. Preoperative Assessment and Patient Preparation — Covers patient interview, physical examination, ASA physical status classification, preoperative fasting guidelines, and informed consent verification protocols.
3. The Anesthesia Workstation — Covers components of anesthesia machines, high and low-pressure systems, flowmeters, vaporizers, safety mechanisms, and daily machine check procedures.
4. Breathing Systems and Circuits — Covers open, semi-closed, and closed breathing circuits, Mapleson classifications, circle systems, soda lime carbon dioxide absorption, and circuit resistance.
5. Basic Airway Management Equipment — Covers anatomical airway assessment, face masks, oropharyngeal airways, nasopharyngeal airways, endotracheal tubes, stylets, and basic laryngoscope blades.
6. Medical Gas Supply and Cylinders — Covers oxygen, nitrous oxide, and medical air cylinders, color coding, pin index safety system, pipeline manifold systems, and regulators.
7. Intraoperative Monitoring Essentials — Covers non-invasive blood pressure, electrocardiography, pulse oximetry, capnography waveforms, temperature monitoring, and peripheral nerve stimulation principles.
8. Suction Apparatus and Scavenging Systems — Covers central and portable suction units, catheter types, vacuum regulators, passive and active waste gas scavenging systems, and theater safety.
9. Post-Anesthesia Care and Recovery Room Basics — Covers post-anesthesia care unit admission, Aldrete scoring system, postoperative monitoring, oxygen therapy administration, and airway extubation management.

1. General Principles of Anesthetic Pharmacology — Covers pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, routes of drug administration, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and adverse drug reactions.
2. Intravenous Induction Agents — Covers mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical indications, and side effects of propofol, thiopental sodium, etomidate, and ketamine.
3. Inhalational Anesthetic Agents — Covers physical properties, minimum alveolar concentration, uptake, distribution, and clinical pharmacology of sevoflurane, isoflurane, desflurane, and nitrous oxide.
4. Neuromuscular Blocking Agents — Covers depolarizing and non-depolarizing muscle relaxants, mechanism at the neuromuscular junction, succinylcholine, vecuronium, rocuronium, atracurium, and monitoring.
5. Neuromuscular Reversal Agents — Covers pharmacology of anticholinesterases, neostigmine, glycopyrrolate co-administration, sugammadex mechanism, clinical dosing, and residual paralysis management.
6. Opioid Analgesics and Antagonists — Covers opioid receptors, clinical uses of morphine, fentanyl, sufentanil, tramadol, side effects, and opioid reversal using naloxone.
7. Local Anesthetics — Covers classification of amides and esters, mechanism of action, lignocaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine, maximum doses, and local anesthetic systemic toxicity.
8. Autonomic and Resuscitation Drugs — Covers sympathomimetics, parasympatholytics, atropine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, ephedrine, vasopressin, antiarrhythmic agents, and ACLS emergency drug pharmacology.
9. Intravenous Fluids and Plasma Expanders — Covers crystalloids, normal saline, Ringer's lactate, balanced salt solutions, colloids, blood products, and fluid replacement guidelines.

1. Basic Word Structure and Components — Covers root words, combining vowels, prefixes, suffixes, word analysis rules, and construction of compound medical terms across clinical disciplines.
2. Directional Terms and Body Planes — Covers anatomical planes, positional descriptors like superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, proximal, distal, and body cavity divisions.
3. Cardiovascular Terminology — Covers prefixes, suffixes, and clinical terms related to heart anatomy, vascular structures, cardiac pathologies, diagnostic tests, and hemodynamic measurements.
4. Respiratory System Terminology — Covers terminology for respiratory organs, ventilation patterns, airway interventions, pulmonary pathologies, spirometry terms, and arterial blood gas nomenclature.
5. Nervous System and Sensory Terminology — Covers terms describing brain regions, cranial nerves, neurological disorders, pain pathways, sensory reception, and consciousness assessment terminology.
6. Surgical and Operative Terminology — Covers surgical prefixes and suffixes like -ectomy, -otomy, -ostomy, surgical instruments, operating room abbreviations, and common perioperative terms.
7. Anesthesia Specific Terminology — Covers terms relating to general, regional, and local anesthesia, sedation levels, airway classification scores, block techniques, and monitoring terms.
8. Diagnostic and Laboratory Terminology — Covers terminology for pathology investigations, hematology markers, imaging modalities, microbiological cultures, biochemical profiles, and standard unit abbreviations.
9. Standard Medical Abbreviations and Symbols — Covers prescription symbols, medication administration routes, emergency abbreviations, charting notations, clinical documentation symbols, and error-prone abbreviations.

1. Introduction to Microbiology and Hospital Infections — Concepts of micro-organisms, hospital-acquired infections, chains of transmission, and the vital role of infection control teams in hospital settings.
2. Hand Hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment — Principles and steps of clinical hand washing, surgical scrubbing techniques, and the appropriate selection, donning, and doffing of personal protective equipment.
3. Principles of Cleaning and Decontamination — Methods of initial decontamination, manual and mechanical cleaning of surgical instruments, ultrasonic cleaners, and safe handling of contaminated healthcare items.
4. Physical Methods of Sterilization — Detailed study of dry heat sterilization, moist heat autoclaving principles, operational cycles, maintenance, and handling of steam sterilizers in hospitals.
5. Chemical and Low-Temperature Sterilization — Mechanisms and protocols of ethylene oxide sterilization, hydrogen peroxide plasma gas, glutaraldehyde, and peracetic acid immersion methods for heat-sensitive items.
6. Sterilization Indicators and Quality Monitoring — Use and interpretation of physical, chemical, and biological indicators to validate and verify the operational efficacy of hospital sterilization cycles.
7. Packaging and Storage of Sterile Goods — Selection of sterile packaging materials, wrapping techniques, labeling, shelf-life principles, and environmental storage conditions in central sterile supply departments.
8. Disinfection of Anesthesia Equipment — Protocols for cleaning, high-level disinfection, and processing of laryngoscopes, breathing circuits, endotracheal tubes, masks, and mechanical ventilator components.
9. Biomedical Waste Management Protocols — Categorization, segregation into color-coded bins, safe collection, transport, treatment, and legal rules regarding healthcare waste management in clinical facilities.
10. Environmental Surveillance and OT Fumigation — Methods of surface disinfection, theatre fumigation, air sampling, water testing, and microbiological surveillance protocols in operating room environments.

1. Overview of Patient Care and Ethics — Fundamental principles of patient-centered care, patient rights, medical confidentiality, legal considerations, and effective communication skills in clinical practice.
2. Vital Signs Monitoring and Recording — Theoretical concepts and clinical techniques for measuring body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation accurately.
3. Patient Admission, Transfer, and Discharge — Protocols for receiving patients, verification of patient identity, safe transfer between wards and operation theatres, and formal discharge processes.
4. Patient Positioning and Bed Making — Techniques for positioning surgical patients, understanding pressure sore prevention, body mechanics for healthcare workers, and occupied bed making methods.
5. Basic First Aid and BLS Protocols — Fundamentals of first aid, assessment of unresponsive patients, cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines, and immediate management of medical shock or syncope.
6. Fluid, Electrolyte, and Nutrition Management — Understanding normal fluid balance, assessment of dehydration, types of intravenous fluids, calculation of infusion rates, and basic nutritional support.
7. Preoperative Patient Assessment and Preparation — Assessment of fasting status, pre-anesthetic check-up records, skin preparation, pre-medication administration, and psychological preparation of surgical patients.
8. Postoperative Care and Recovery — Immediate monitoring in the post-anesthesia care unit, managing nausea, hypothermia, airway patency, fluid maintenance, and common postoperative complications.
9. Catheterization and Care of Drains — Principles of urinary catheterization, drainage system maintenance, aseptic handling of surgical drains, and observation of fluid output patterns.

Detailed Syllabus — 2nd Year

1. Advanced Airway Management Equipment and Techniques — Use of videolaryngoscopes, fiberoptic bronchoscopes, supraglottic airway devices, retrograde intubation, and emergency surgical cricothyroidotomy procedures in difficult airways.
2. Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia — Principles of ultrasonography, nerve identification, needle visualization, and execution of upper and lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks in clinical anesthesia.
3. Total Intravenous Anesthesia and Infusion Protocols — Pharmacokinetics and dynamics of intravenous anesthetic agents, infusion pump setups, depth of anesthesia monitoring, and maintenance protocols during total intravenous anesthesia.
4. Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring Techniques — Principles, indications, setup, and waveform analysis of arterial lines, central venous pressure lines, and pulmonary artery catheter monitoring systems.
5. Neuroanesthesia and Intracranial Pressure Control — Anesthetic management for craniotomies, monitoring intracranial pressure, managing cerebral perfusion pressure, brain relaxation techniques, and sitting position precautions.
6. Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia — Anesthetic considerations for open heart surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass setup, one-lung ventilation techniques, and transesophageal echocardiography basic concepts.
7. Pediatric and Neonatal Anesthesia — Anatomical and physiological differences in children, specialized breathing circuits, pediatric drug dosages, temperature regulation, and airway management techniques.
8. Anesthesia for Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeries — Physiological changes associated with pneumoperitoneum, patient positioning hazards, ventilatory adjustments, and rapid recovery strategies in minimally invasive surgeries.
9. Anesthesia Outside the Operating Room — Challenges and protocols for administering anesthesia in endoscopy suites, MRI scanners, CT units, cardiac catheterization labs, and radiodiagnostic areas.
10. Management of Critical Anesthetic Emergencies — Recognition and crisis resource management for malignant hyperthermia, anaphylaxis, local anesthetic systemic toxicity, air embolism, and tension pneumothorax.

1. Design and Layout of Operation Theatres — Architectural principles, zoning concept of modern operating suites, clean air flow designs, laminar flow, and ventilation system requirements in hospitals.
2. Operation Theatre Tables and Accessories — Types, mechanical functions, maintenance, and attachment accessories of operating tables utilized for various surgical specialties and patient positions.
3. Medical Gas Pipeline System — Source manifolds, compressed gas cylinders, color coding, safety valves, pipeline alarms, and wall outlet connections in modern surgical suites.
4. Electrosurgical Units and Diathermy Safety — Principles of monopolar and bipolar electrosurgery, patient return electrode placement, safety hazards, smoke evacuation, and electrical fire prevention.
5. Surgical Lighting and Optical Systems — Mechanics of surgical shadowless lights, operating microscopes, endoscopes, camera stacks, light sources, and maintenance of optical visualization equipment.
6. Anesthesia Workstations and Ventilators — Structure, functioning, high and low-pressure systems, vaporizers, fail-safe mechanisms, ventilator modes, and pre-use checkout protocols of anesthesia machines.
7. Suction Units and Scavenging Systems — Operational mechanics of central vacuum pipelines, portable suction apparatus, active and passive waste anesthetic gas scavenging systems, and safety checks.
8. Theatre Protocol and Scrubbing Techniques — Standard operating protocols inside operating rooms, traffic control, surgical attire rules, gowning, gloving techniques, and maintaining sterile fields.
9. Instrument Management and Count Procedures — Organization of basic and specialty surgical instrument trays, instrument handling, and strict protocols for counting sponges, needles, and instruments.
10. Hazards and Safety in the Operation Theatre — Identification and prevention of radiation hazards, fire safety protocols, chemical safety, electrical safety guidelines, and disaster management within operating theatres.

1. Medical Gas Supply Systems — Study of medical gas cylinders, pipeline networks, manifold rooms, color coding, pin index systems, and safety diameter index systems in hospitals.
2. The Anesthesia Workstation — Components, high, intermediate, and low-pressure systems, safety relief valves, flowmeters, oxygen flush mechanisms, and daily pre-use safety checklists.
3. Anesthetic Vaporizers — Principles, classification, temperature and flow compensation, filling mechanisms, hazard prevention, maintenance, and handling of volatile anesthetic agents like sevoflurane and isoflurane.
4. Breathing Circuits and Systems — Types including Mapleson classification, circle systems, soda lime carbon dioxide absorbers, unidirectional valves, reservoir bags, and adjustable pressure limiting valves.
5. Airway Management Equipment — Design, sizes, and maintenance of face masks, oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways, endotracheal tubes, supraglottic devices, stylets, and bougies.
6. Laryngoscopes and Video Equipment — Standard rigid laryngoscopes with Miller and Macintosh blades, fiberoptic bronchoscopes, video laryngoscopes, light sources, cleaning procedures, and operational readiness.
7. Basic Hemodynamic Monitoring — Principles and operation of non-invasive blood pressure monitors, automated cuffs, continuous electrocardiography lead placements, and automated temperature monitoring probes.
8. Pulse Oximetry and Capnography — Technical working principles, absorption spectrophotometry, capnogram waveform interpretation, end-tidal carbon dioxide measurement, clinical significance, and troubleshooting device alarms.
9. Invasive Monitoring Equipment — Setup, zeroing, calibration, and maintenance of arterial lines, central venous pressure transducers, pressure infusers, and continuous flush devices.
10. Neuromuscular and Depth Monitoring — Operating principles of peripheral nerve stimulators, train-of-four monitoring, processed EEG monitors, and bispectral index devices for assessing anesthetic depth.
11. Equipment Disinfection and Sterilization — Protocols for decontaminating reusable airway devices, breathing circuits, autoclave operation, chemical disinfectant handling, and maintenance of sterile operating rooms.

1. Principles of Basic Life Support — Adult and pediatric CPR techniques, chest compression mechanics, automated external defibrillator usage, and airway clearance according to updated resuscitation guidelines.
2. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support — Management of pulseless electrical activity, asystole, ventricular tachycardia, defibrillation protocols, cardioversion, pacing, and emergency resuscitation pharmacology administration.
3. Airway Emergencies and Difficult Airway — Recognition of acute airway obstruction, rapid sequence induction, failed intubation protocols, surgical cricothyroidotomy equipment, and emergency needle cricothyroidotomy procedures.
4. Shock Recognition and Management — Pathophysiology, classification, monitoring, fluid resuscitation strategies, and vasoactive drug administration for hypovolemic, cardiogenic, septic, and anaphylactic shock states.
5. Intensive Care Unit Setup — ICU bed layout, central monitoring systems, infusion pumps, syringe drivers, isolation room protocols, and essential support equipment for critically ill patients.
6. Mechanical Ventilation in Critical Care — Basic ventilator modes, trigger settings, positive end-expiratory pressure, tidal volume titration, humidifier usage, and ventilator alarm troubleshooting in ICUs.
7. Arterial Blood Gas Analysis — Blood sample collection techniques, handling pre-analytical errors, acid-base balance interpretation, metabolic acidosis, alkalosis, and respiratory compensation parameters in emergencies.
8. Trauma and Mass Casualty Triage — Initial trauma survey, cervical spine stabilization, hemorrhage control, chest tube drainage system setup, and triage categories during mass disaster events.
9. Poisoning, Burns, and Environmental Emergencies — Management of acute chemical toxicities, drug overdoses, electrical burns, smoke inhalation injury, fluid resuscitation Parkland formula, and hypothermia protocols.
10. Care of Unconscious and Comatose Patients — Glasgow Coma Scale assessment, neurological pupil monitoring, prevention of secondary brain injury, positioning, aspiration prevention, and deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis.

1. Pre-anesthetic Patient Evaluation — Reviewing medical history, ASA physical status classification, organ system assessments, fasting guidelines, pre-operative investigation analysis, and obtaining informed consent.
2. Pharmacokinetics of Anesthetic Agents — Properties, administration, mechanisms, and side effects of intravenous induction drugs, inhalation anesthetics, opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxant agents.
3. General Anesthesia Techniques — Stages of anesthesia, preparation of anesthesia machine, induction protocols, maintenance methods, neuromuscular reversal strategies, and extubation criteria for patients.
4. Spinal and Epidural Anesthesia — Surface anatomy, spinal needles, epidural catheter sets, local anesthetic solutions, positioning techniques, contraindications, and management of spinal hypotension.
5. Peripheral Nerve Blocks — Anatomy, indications, nerve locator devices, ultrasound guidance equipment, local anesthetic systemic toxicity management, and common upper and lower extremity blocks.
6. Anesthesia for Surgical Specialties — Specific anesthetic considerations for general surgery, orthopedic procedures, obstetrics, pediatric patients, geriatric populations, and laparoscopic abdominal surgeries.
7. Intravenous Cannulation and Fluid Therapy — Selecting intravenous access sites, cannula sizing, crystalloid versus colloid fluids, blood transfusion protocols, cross-matching, and managing transfusion reactions.
8. Post-Anesthesia Care Unit Operations — Handover protocols, monitoring postanesthetic discharge criteria, Aldrete scoring, pain assessment scales, oxygen therapy, and management of postoperative shivering.
9. Complications During Anesthesia — Recognition and rapid response to intraoperative bronchospasm, laryngospasm, hypoxemia, malignant hyperthermia, aspiration, hypothermia, and sudden hemodynamic instability.
10. Infection Control and Medical Ethics — Hospital waste disposal rules, standard sterile precautions, patient privacy laws, professional record keeping, medico-legal responsibilities, and operating theater conduct.

1. Operating Theater Orientation — Familiarization with operating theater layout, sterile field maintenance, scrubbing, gowning, gloving techniques, zoning regulations, and daily workflow protocols.
2. Pre-operative Setup and Equipment Check — Practical routine inspection of anesthesia machines, suction apparatus, emergency drug trays, airway trolley preparation, and checking oxygen pipeline pressure.
3. Patient Reception and Verification — Identifying surgical patients, cross-checking surgical consent, reviewing pre-operative fasting status, allergy verification, and ensuring availability of required blood units.
4. Assistance in Airway Management — Hands-on assistance during mask ventilation, pre-oxygenation, laryngoscopy, supraglottic device placement, endotracheal intubation, tube fixation, and throat packing.
5. Assistance in Regional Anesthesia — Preparing sterile procedural trays, assisting patient positioning for lumbar puncture, handling local anesthetic ampoules, and monitoring post-block vital signs.
6. Intraoperative Monitoring and Charting — Documenting vitals on anesthesia charts, assisting blood loss calculation, managing fluid infusion rates, and tracking administered intraoperative medications.
7. Post-operative Patient Recovery Care — Transferring patients safely to PACU, continuous pulse oximetry monitoring, managing airway patency during emergence, and reporting recovery complications.
8. Emergency and Crash Cart Maintenance — Routine replenishment of crash cart drugs, defibrillator testing, emergency intubation kit readiness, and maintaining expired medication disposal logs.
9. Clinical Rotation in Intensive Care Units — Bedside monitoring of mechanically ventilated patients, endotracheal tube suctioning, assistance in central line insertions, and arterial line maintenance.
10. Biomedical Waste Management and Logbook Documentation — Color-coded waste disposal, sharp needle segregation, decontamination of reusable anesthesia equipment, and daily logbook maintenance signed by supervisors.