Royal North Shore Hospital has a moderate to high case load of microlaryngoscopy cases, neck dissections, and cancer free-flap reconstructions, all of which involve the two key objectives of the airway fellowship:
- Advanced airway management
- The provision of anaesthesia for head and neck surgery
The airway fellowship involves spending two days per week on surgical lists involving these cases. It is expected that the airway fellow participates in the after-hours roster, in equal contribution to the general fellows. Our institution’s significant trauma, burns, and spinal injury case load, further allows for the implementation of advanced airway techniques. Numerous continuing medical education opportunities are incorporated into this airway fellowship, chiefly:
- Attendance at the ATTAAC airway management course
- Organisation and delivery of the quarterly RNSH Airway Round Table
- This is a meeting involving the presentation and discussion of challenging and significant airway cases involving the departments of emergency, intensive care, and ENT
Teaching opportunities include:
- ATTAAC airway management course (after attending this course first)
- Critical Care Airway Management Course (CCAM)
- Nursing in-service education
- Trainee airway teaching:
- ANZCA Part 2 Fellowship Exam teaching
- CICO
- Airway management simulation – in conjunction with the simulation team
It is intended that the Airway Fellow will function as a link between the ENT and Anaesthetic departments, via attendance in the first clinical term, at the head and neck MDT and clinic, where high risk patients for upcoming surgery can be assessed and reviewed, as well as via the professional relationships formed through the head and neck surgery list allocations.