Objective Anesthesia Review, 5th Edition (2021)

 

Featured image for Objective Anesthesia Review: A Comprehensive Textbook for the Examinees, 5th Edition (2021), showing modern anesthesia equipment, a patient monitor, breathing circuit, and the book title, representing an examination-focused anesthesiology review resource for residents, postgraduate trainees, and healthcare professionals.

What is Objective Anesthesia Review, 5th Edition (2021)?

Objective Anesthesia Review, Fifth Edition, is a comprehensive review textbook designed primarily for anesthesia postgraduate examinees. Edited by Atul Prabhakar Kulkarni, Jigeeshu Vasistha Divatia, and Vijaya Prakash Patil, it combines case discussions with equipment-based viva preparation to help learners strengthen both theoretical knowledge and practical examination skills.

Introduction

Preparing for postgraduate anesthesia examinations requires much more than memorizing isolated facts. Candidates must understand clinical reasoning, perioperative decision-making, anesthesia equipment, critical care principles, and viva examination techniques. 

Objective Anesthesia Review: A Comprehensive Textbook for the Examinees (5th Edition) was developed specifically to address these educational needs.

Edited by Dr. Atul Prabhakar Kulkarni, Dr. Jigeeshu Vasistha Divatia, and Dr. Vijaya Prakash Patil from the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain at Tata Memorial Hospital, this textbook originated from the institution's structured Anesthesia Review Course, which was designed for postgraduate trainees approaching their qualifying examinations. 

According to the editors, the book evolved from years of organized teaching beginning in 2004 and was first published in 2009 before reaching its fifth edition in 2021.

Rather than functioning as a traditional reference textbook, the book is organized to simulate the style of oral examinations and objective assessments. 

Clinical scenarios, discussion-based learning, anesthesia equipment, and table viva topics are integrated into a single resource intended to reinforce examination readiness while emphasizing safe anesthetic practice.

The editors also explain that although some older anesthesia equipment now has limited clinical use, they deliberately retained discussions of these devices because they continue to appear in examinations and remain valuable for understanding the historical development of anesthesia, along with the underlying principles of physics and physiology. 

In addition, the fifth edition introduces a new chapter on perioperative fluid therapy, reflecting its growing importance in both examinations and clinical practice.

For anesthesia residents, postgraduate students, young anesthesiologists, and clinicians seeking a structured review before examinations, this book serves as a focused educational companion rather than an encyclopedic reference.

Book Overview

Feature

Details

Full Title

Objective Anesthesia Review: A Comprehensive Textbook for the Examinees

Edition

Fifth Edition

Editors

Atul Prabhakar Kulkarni, Jigeeshu Vasistha Divatia, Vijaya Prakash Patil

Publisher

Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers

Publication Year

2021 (Reprint 2023)

Medical Specialty

Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine

Institutional Background

Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai

Primary Purpose

Comprehensive review textbook for anesthesia examinees

ISBN

978-93-90020-48-5

WHAT THIS BOOK COVERS

One of the defining characteristics of Objective Anesthesia Review is its organization around real-world clinical scenarios and examination-oriented discussions. Instead of presenting isolated facts, the book guides readers through common clinical situations encountered in anesthesia practice and postgraduate examinations.

The book is divided into two major educational sections.

Section 1: Case Discussions

The first section consists of numerous clinical case discussions covering a broad spectrum of perioperative medicine. These include cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders, obstetric anesthesia, neuroanesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, trauma, endocrine disorders, renal disease, hepatic disease, pain management, and perioperative pharmacology.

Examples of topics listed in the table of contents include:

  • Mitral stenosis with pulmonary hypertension
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Hypertensive patients
  • Tetralogy of Fallot
  • Patent ductus arteriosus
  • Permanent pacemaker
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Bronchiectasis with lung abscess
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
  • Emergency cesarean section
  • Obstetric hemorrhage
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Difficult airway management
  • Burns
  • Cleft lip and palate surgery
  • Geriatric anesthesia
  • Morbid obesity
  • Cirrhosis with portal hypertension
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Chronic kidney disease and renal transplantation
  • Acute postoperative pain
  • Pharmacokinetic principles in anesthesia
  • Fluid management in major abdominal surgery

Each case discussion follows an examination-style question-and-answer format designed to encourage analytical thinking rather than rote memorization.

Section 2: Anesthesia Equipment and Table Viva

The second major section focuses on anesthesia equipment and viva preparation. Topics include:

  • Arterial blood gas analysis
  • Mechanical ventilation
  • Pulmonary function testing
  • Anesthesia machines
  • Vaporizers
  • Breathing systems
  • Endotracheal tubes
  • Lung isolation devices
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Airway equipment
  • Electrocardiography
  • Chest X-ray interpretation
  • Supraglottic airway devices
  • Regional anesthesia instruments
  • Peripheral nerve stimulators
  • Oxygen therapy devices
  • Videolaryngoscopes
  • Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)

This combination of clinical case discussions and equipment-based learning mirrors the structure of many postgraduate anesthesia examinations.

Key Features

  • Comprehensive review textbook developed specifically for anesthesia examinees.
  • Created under the aegis of the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital.
  • Fifth edition published by Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.
  • Clinical case discussions presented in an examination-oriented question-and-answer format.
  • Extensive coverage of anesthesia equipment and table viva topics.
  • Includes perioperative medicine, critical care, pain medicine, and airway management.
  • Covers both adult and pediatric anesthesia scenarios.
  • Includes obstetric, cardiac, thoracic, neuro, endocrine, hepatic, renal, and trauma anesthesia topics.
  • New edition includes a dedicated chapter on perioperative fluid therapy, reflecting its importance in modern clinical practice and examinations.
  • Produced in full color while maintaining affordability according to the editors.

Who Should Read This Book

Although the title emphasizes examination preparation, the educational content has a broader audience.

Postgraduate Anesthesia Residents

This is the primary audience identified by the editors. The structured review style aligns closely with postgraduate anesthesia examinations and viva assessments.

Medical Graduates Preparing for Specialty Training

Doctors entering anesthesiology training can use the book as a systematic introduction to common clinical scenarios and anesthesia equipment encountered during residency.

Young Consultant Anesthesiologists

Recently qualified anesthesiologists may find the case-based discussions useful for revising core concepts encountered in routine perioperative practice.

Critical Care Trainees

Because many chapters involve perioperative physiology, airway management, cardiopulmonary assessment, mechanical ventilation, and fluid management, the content is relevant to clinicians training in critical care medicine.

Medical Educators

Faculty involved in teaching postgraduate anesthesiology can use the structured question-and-answer approach as a framework for tutorials, viva sessions, and examination preparation.

Examination Candidates

Candidates preparing for:

  • MD Anesthesiology
  • DNB Anesthesiology
  • Diploma examinations
  • University practical examinations
  • Oral viva examinations

may benefit from the book's structured review format, which was specifically developed from an established anesthesia review course for examinees.

Why This Book Is Useful

Objective Anesthesia Review, Fifth Edition is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and examination performance. 

Rather than functioning solely as a reference text, it presents anesthesiology through clinical scenarios, structured questions, and viva-style discussions that encourage systematic clinical reasoning. 

According to the editors, the book originated from the Anesthesia Review Course at Tata Memorial Hospital, a structured teaching program developed specifically for postgraduate trainees preparing for their examinations.

Examination-Oriented Learning

One of the book's major strengths is its emphasis on objective, examination-focused learning. The question-and-answer format closely resembles oral examinations and practical assessments, enabling readers to review important concepts efficiently while practicing how to approach viva questions.

Strong Clinical Relevance

The clinical cases span multiple subspecialties within anesthesiology, exposing readers to common perioperative challenges encountered in daily practice. Topics include cardiovascular disease, thoracic surgery, obstetric anesthesia, neuroanesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, endocrine disorders, renal disease, trauma, airway management, postoperative pain, and perioperative fluid therapy.

Practical Equipment Knowledge

Unlike many conventional anesthesia textbooks, this book devotes an entire section to anesthesia equipment and table viva topics. Readers review not only modern devices but also equipment that may still appear during examinations. The editors explain that older equipment has been retained because it illustrates fundamental principles of physics and physiology despite limited routine clinical use.

Broad Coverage of Core Anesthesiology

The contents extend beyond operating room anesthesia to include:

  • Airway management
  • Mechanical ventilation
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Blood gas interpretation
  • Electrocardiography
  • Pulmonary function testing
  • Regional anesthesia equipment
  • Oxygen therapy devices
  • Videolaryngoscopy
  • Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)

This broad scope makes the book valuable for revision across many domains of anesthesiology.

Learning Efficiency

Because chapters are organized around focused clinical questions instead of lengthy narrative text, readers can rapidly revise high-yield topics before examinations while reinforcing clinical reasoning.

Table of Contents Overview

The book is organized into two major educational sections followed by an index.

Section 1 – Case Discussions

This section contains approximately forty clinical case discussions covering numerous anesthetic scenarios, including:

  • Cardiovascular anesthesia
  • Respiratory disease
  • Thoracic anesthesia
  • Obstetric anesthesia
  • Neuroanesthesia
  • Pediatric anesthesia
  • Airway management
  • Trauma and burns
  • Geriatric anesthesia
  • Bariatric anesthesia
  • Hepatic disease
  • Renal transplantation
  • Endocrine disorders
  • Orthopedic procedures
  • Ophthalmic surgery
  • Pain management
  • Pharmacokinetic principles
  • Perioperative fluid management

Representative chapters include:

  • Mitral Stenosis with Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Ischemic Heart Disease
  • Tetralogy of Fallot
  • Permanent Pacemaker
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • Difficult Airway
  • Burns
  • Morbid Obesity
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Chronic Kidney Disease and Renal Transplant
  • Acute Postoperative Pain
  • Pharmacokinetic Principles in Anesthesia
  • Fluid Management in Major Abdominal Surgery

Section 2 – Anesthesia Equipment and Table Viva

The second section is devoted to equipment, monitoring, investigations, and viva preparation.

Major topics include:

  • Arterial Blood Gas Analysis
  • Mechanical Ventilation
  • Pulmonary Function Tests
  • Anesthesia Machine
  • Vaporizers
  • Breathing Systems
  • Endotracheal Tubes
  • Lung Isolation Devices
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
  • Airways and Laryngoscopes
  • Electrocardiography
  • Chest X-ray Interpretation
  • Supraglottic Airway Devices
  • Regional Anesthesia Instruments
  • Peripheral Nerve Stimulators
  • Oxygen Therapy Devices
  • Videolaryngoscopes
  • Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET)

Strengths of the Book

Examination-Focused Organization

The book is specifically written for anesthesia examinees rather than general readers, making its structure highly relevant for postgraduate revision.

Developed from an Established Teaching Program

Its content evolved from the Tata Memorial Hospital Anesthesia Review Course, suggesting that the material has been refined through years of postgraduate teaching experience.

Wide Clinical Coverage

The textbook spans cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, obstetric, pediatric, endocrine, renal, hepatic, orthopedic, and critical care anesthesia, providing comprehensive revision across the specialty.

Integration of Clinical Cases and Equipment

Combining clinical case discussions with equipment-based viva preparation creates a balanced learning resource that addresses both theoretical and practical aspects of anesthesiology.

Updated Fifth Edition

The editors note that the fifth edition introduces a new chapter on perioperative fluid therapy and transitions to full-color presentation while maintaining affordability for trainees.

Contributions from Multiple Faculty Members

The book includes contributions from numerous faculty members within the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain at Tata Memorial Hospital, bringing expertise from multiple educators.

Limitations

  • The primary emphasis is examination preparation rather than serving as a comprehensive encyclopedic reference text.
  • The editors note that some historical anesthesia equipment has been intentionally retained because it remains relevant for examinations, even though its routine clinical use is limited.
  • The preface mentions that readers should update themselves regarding newer cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines that were expected after publication, highlighting that guideline-based topics may evolve over time.

Comparison With Similar Books

From the uploaded source, Objective Anesthesia Review is clearly positioned as an examination review textbook rather than a comprehensive foundational textbook.

Compared with traditional anesthesiology references, this book distinguishes itself by:

  • Organizing content around viva-style clinical questions.
  • Emphasizing examination preparation.
  • Combining case discussions with equipment-based revision.
  • Presenting concise, focused discussions suitable for rapid review.


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FAQs

1. What is Objective Anesthesia Review, Fifth Edition?

It is a comprehensive review textbook developed primarily for anesthesia postgraduate examinees, featuring clinical case discussions and anesthesia equipment topics in an examination-oriented format.

2. Who edited this book?

The fifth edition is edited by Atul Prabhakar Kulkarni, Jigeeshu Vasistha Divatia, and Vijaya Prakash Patil from the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

3. Who should read this book?

According to its stated purpose, the book is intended primarily for anesthesia postgraduate trainees and examinees. It may also be useful for residents, young anesthesiologists, and educators seeking structured clinical revision.

4. What subjects are covered?

The book covers clinical case discussions across multiple anesthesiology subspecialties as well as anesthesia equipment, airway management, monitoring, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, regional anesthesia equipment, and perioperative fluid management.

5. Is the fifth edition updated?

Yes. The editors state that the fifth edition includes a new chapter on perioperative fluid therapy and is presented in full color while retaining its examination-focused approach.

6. Does the book include anesthesia equipment?

Yes. A dedicated section focuses on anesthesia equipment and table viva topics, including anesthesia machines, vaporizers, breathing systems, videolaryngoscopes, airway devices, and regional anesthesia instruments.

7. Is this a comprehensive anesthesiology reference textbook?

The source describes it as "A Comprehensive Textbook for the Examinees." Its organization emphasizes structured review and examination preparation rather than functioning solely as a traditional reference work.

Conclusion

Objective Anesthesia Review: A Comprehensive Textbook for the Examinees (5th Edition) is an examination-oriented anesthesiology review book developed from the long-running Anesthesia Review Course conducted by the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain at Tata Memorial Hospital. 

According to the editors, the book was designed to help postgraduate trainees prepare systematically for anesthesia examinations through structured clinical discussions and viva-style learning.

A major strength of the textbook is its balanced approach to revision. Instead of presenting isolated facts, it integrates clinical case discussions with practical anesthesia equipment, monitoring, airway management, perioperative medicine, and critical care topics. 

This organization allows readers to reinforce fundamental concepts while developing the analytical thinking expected during oral examinations.

The fifth edition also reflects ongoing educational updates. The editors highlight the inclusion of a new chapter on perioperative fluid therapy and note that the book has been converted to a full-color format while preserving its examination-focused structure. 

They also acknowledge that readers should remain aware of evolving clinical guidelines, particularly in areas such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, where recommendations may change after publication.

For anesthesia residents, postgraduate students, and clinicians seeking an organized revision resource, this textbook offers a structured review of core anesthesiology concepts. 

While it is not presented as a replacement for comprehensive reference textbooks, its question-and-answer format makes it particularly useful for focused revision and examination preparation.

Readers looking for a resource that combines clinical reasoning with equipment-based viva preparation may find Objective Anesthesia Review (5th Edition) to be a valuable addition to their anesthesiology learning materials.

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