Pediatric Anesthesia: A Problem-Based Learning Approach

Linking existing knowledge to new knowledge by presenting it in the form of a case or a problem is a popular and effective educational approach resulting in better retention of the knowledge and improved ability to apply that knowledge to solve real problems. This problem-based learning (PBL) method was introduced into medical education at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, in 1969. Since then it has been widely incorporated into secondary, undergraduate, and graduate educationin a variety of disciplines worldwide. This new volume for the Anesthesiology Problem-Based Learning series reviews pediatric anesthesia utilizing the PBL approach. Each chapter deals with conditions and problems in pediatric anesthesia practice presented as a case stem with questions to encourage critical thinking, followed by an evidence-based discussion and multiple-choice questions for self-assessment. Cases were carefully selected to present a broad systems-based tour of commonly encountered clinical cases in pediatricanesthesia. The book can be used to review an upcoming clinical case or as a PBL tool. The Stem Case and Key Questions and Discussion sections can serve as the basis for interactive learning experiences for study groups or as a broad yet in-depth clinical review of the subspecialty for the individual learner. Self-assessment questions can be used as a measure of knowledge acquisition or simply as a question bank to prepare for examinations.