This chapter discusses anaesthetic emergencies. It begins with a description of adult basic life support and advanced life support. It goes on to describe the management of acute problems, including narrow and broad complex tachycardia, severe hypo- or hypertension, severe hypoxia, laryngospasm, air/gas embolism, gastric aspiration, status asthmaticus, pulmonary oedema, failed intubation, the cannot-intubate-cannot-ventilate scenario, malignant hyperthermia anaphylaxis, intra-arterial injection, and unsuccessful reversal of neuromuscular blockade. It concludes with the management of paediatric emergencies, including paediatric advanced life support, ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia, neonatal resuscitation, the collapsed septic child, paediatric major trauma, acute severe asthma, and anaphylaxis, as well as with a discussion of paediatric drug doses and equipment.
