Small Group Discussions

Ophthalmic Anaesthesia and Sub-tenon's Blocks

Dr David Olive

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 0830 - 0930 | Meeting Room 205 | 5 pax 

Wait list is available

Sub-Tenon’s blocks: If I’m starting out, should this be my default eye block, or just used occasionally? If I’m already really good at sharp needle techniques, why bother learning an alternative? Don’t the surgeons hate them? Doesn’t it hurt? How do I do Sub-Tenon’s blocks that are fast, effective, near painless and give a good cosmetic result? All of this - indications, contraindications, technique - will be discussed.

Newer Generation LMA Use in a Morbidly Obese Population

Dr Adrian Sultana

Saturday, 17 September, 2016 0830 – 0930 | Meeting Room 206

Wait list is available

We share our experience, elucidate and classify the range of available devices and outline their efficacy and safety in this population. Our aim is to give the audience confidence in these techniques. We will discuss:

• the advantages of 2nd and 3rd generation supraglottic airways (SGAs) over the endotracheal tube (ETT);

• the NAP4 recommendations;

• reasons to avoid intubation;

• the structure, function and performance envelope of the ProSeal LMA (PLMA) and Supreme LMA (SLMA) in this population;

• the clinical use of the 3rd generation SGAs - AuraGain (TM) LMA Protector (TM);

• and a proposed post-bariatric airway management protocol.

Major Haemorrhage Management

Dr Kwok Ho

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 0830 – 0930 | Meeting Room 214

Limited spots available

Critical bleeding is one of the commonest medical emergencies in anaesthesia and intensive care. Increasing use of low- molecular-weight-heparin, new oral anti-coagulation and antiplatelet agents confounds both the choice of medical therapies and how to interpret laboratory coagulation results.

Understanding the limitations of each blood test in critical bleeding is of paramount importance. In this small group discussion, Dr Ho will discuss the interactive roles of different blood products, intravenous tranexamic acid, calcium supplementation, and viscoelastic monitoring in the management of critical bleeding. The key to success in critical bleeding relies heavily on a multifaceted approach to both source control and medical therapies.

Decision Making in the Perioperative Management of Pulmonary Hypertension in the Non-Tertiary Centre

Dr David Gillespie, Dr John Neal

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 0830 - 0930 | Meeting Room 215

Increasing numbers of patients with Pulmonary Hypertension are presenting for non-cardiac anaesthesia. A collaborative approach with surgeons, anaesthetists & intensivists is required especially in a non specialist centre. Discussion of risk stratification & decision pathways concerning perioperative management of real life cases presenting at a regional centre.

Preoperative Physiological Optimisation – Overcoming the challenges

Dr Grant Brace

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 0945 - 1045 | Meeting Room 205

The majority of our surgical patients are admitted the same day as their surgery, giving us little or no time to correct physiological deficiencies. Best practice would now mandate that patient medical information be available to the anaesthetist some time prior to the day of admission.

Increasingly our patients are presenting with complex medical issues needing optimisation irrespective of the nature of their surgery.

Commercial aviation runs on SOP’s (Standard operating procedures ). It is now time that anaesthetists adopt a SOP for preoperative physiological optimisation. Anaesthetists should be the first in line to provide this care.

This group discussion will focus on pathophysiological indicators, risk scales and ways to improve both physiological and psychological preparation for anaesthesia in a timely manner. Bring your difficult cases for discussion. Hear what the Coroner said about the way “we” do business.

Become empowered to provide better preoperative physiological optimisation for your patients.

Overseas Aid - Service Missions and Education

Dr David Pescod

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 0945 - 1045 | Meeting Room 206

2015 was a momentous year for global anaesthesia. The World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA68.15, “Strengthening emergency and essential surgical care and anaesthesia as a component of universal health coverage.” The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery emphasized that surgery was an “indivisible, indispensable part of basic health care”, with key challenging messages that:

• 5 billion people do not have access to safe, affordable surgical and anaesthesia care

• 143 million additional surgical procedures are needed each year in low to middle income countries.

The Commission identified three “bellwether” procedures: caesarean section, laparotomy and the treatment of open fracture, however to achieve 80% worldwide provision of timely access to essential surgery and anaesthesia by 2030, we will need to double the surgical workforce, training a further 2.2 million surgeons, obstetricians and anaesthetists.

Who (? task shifting), what (?scope of practice) and how can we achieve these challenges?

Anaesthesia for Paediatric Tonsillectomy

Dr Lindy Cass

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 0945 - 1045 | Meeting Room 214

Wait list is available

Anaesthesia for paediatric tonsillectomy is one of our more challenging anaesthetics carrying real risks of significant morbidity and rarely even mortality. We will discuss:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea - the commonest indication for tonsillectomy in young children: which cases can be safely done as day cases, which children should be referred to a centre with a paediatric ICU?

• Respiratory tract infection - who should be postponed and for how long?

• Emergence delerium - is it predictable and how can it be minimised?

• Post-operative pain relief

Please bring along any interesting cases and questions.

Anaesthetic Options for Microlaryngoscopy

Dr Susan Beath

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 0945 - 1045 | Meeting Room 215

Using a selection of cases we will discuss the airway and ventilatory management of microlaryngoscopy. This will include the use of high frequency jet ventilation and apnoeic oxygenation. We will also consider the options for airway management when an awake fiberoptic intubation isn’t possible.

Perioperative Diabetes Management and Insulin Pumps

Dr Judy Killen

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1100 - 1200 | Meeting Room 205

Insulin pump therapy is increasingly common in the management of type 1 diabetes, and its use is expanding into the far larger group of people with type 2 diabetes.

This discussion will cover the general principles of perioperative management of patients on insulin therapy, with a focus on the modifications to insulin dosing required when fasting for surgery and use of insulin pumps for this purpose.

ECG Refresher

Dr Brian Ko

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1100 - 1200 | Meeting Room 206

This session aims to review common rhythm disturbances and abnormal ECG patterns encountered in the peri-operative setting. Discussions will be centered around case scenarios. All who are interested in refreshing basic principles of ECG interpretation will be most welcome.

Communication Skills at Caesarean Section

Dr James Griffiths

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1100 - 1200 | Meeting Room 214

The birth of a baby by caesarean delivery is a momentous event for any family, and can be a very stressful event, both for the patient and her partner. This is especially true in an emergency or after-hours setting, or when things are going wrong. In additional to providing safe and effective clinical anaesthesia, the anaesthetist has an important role as patient advocate.

The anaesthetist has the opportunity to explain, liaise, interpret, encourage and reassure the patient and her partner in such a way that can greatly reduce stress and anxiety.

There is extensive evidence in the literature that communication skills have a critical role in shaping and influencing the patient experience. We will explore the placebo and nocebo effects of language, aspects of clinical hypnosis and neurolinguistic programming and the ways in which how you say something can be more important than what you say.

Breathing and No Tube - a Guide to the Tubeless Technique

Dr Andrew Beck

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1100 - 1200 | Meeting Room 215

TTubeless - need anaesthesia but want to avoid a tube? This session will focus on anaesthetic techniques and surgical considerations for tubeless techniques in head and neck surgery - microlaryngoscopy, panendoscopy and laser of the airways.

Neuromuscular Blockade Management

A/Prof. Stephanie Phillips, Dr Paul Stewart

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1215 - 1315 | Meeting Room 205

Residual neuromuscular blockade remains common and neuromuscular function monitoring underused. ANZCA is piloting a new professional document which states:

“Quantifiable neuromuscular function monitoring must be available for every patient in whom neuromuscular blockade has been induced and should be used whenever the anaesthetist is considering extubation following the use of non-depolarising neuromuscular blockade.” This discussion could cover the need for quantitative monitoring, practice setting it up (if participants are interested), level of block for different procedures and reversal, as well as the side effects of neostigmine administered to recovered patients."

Return to Anaesthesia Practice after a Period of Leave

Dr Kara Allen, Dr Janette Wright

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1215 - 1315 | Meeting Room 206

Minimal research has been done into how time away from the operating theatre affects our craft group. Delivering safe anaesthesia involves a large number of technical and psychomotor skills, which are likely to deteriorate with lack of practice, a use it or lose it scenario. Meeting the need for retraining and familiarisation of the anaesthetist returning to work is complex and individual, and benefits not only the individual, but the whole craft group.

This workshop is an opportunity to discuss these issues plus a variety of solutions with two anaesthetists who are actively involved in helping anaesthetists return to work. They utilise a course called CRASH that aims to increase confidence and decrease anxiety in those returning to work.

ROTEM in Obstetrics

Dr Julie Lee

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1215 - 1315 | Meeting Room 214

We will review the current evidence related to the utility of ROTEM® in the obstetric population. Clinical case discussions will be used to fine-tune participants’ skills in the interpretation of ROTEM® results.

Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (TIVA)

Dr Peter Roessler, Dr David Lam

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1215 - 1315 | Meeting Room 215

Should you TIVA all your patients?

TIVA is an increasingly common anaesthetic technique. TIVA has been associated with less nausea, better recovery, less emergence delirium, less airway complications, less hyperglycaemia, less bleeding and a lower incidence of chronic pain.

TIVA also lowers malignant hyperthermia risk, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and can be several times cheaper to run than volatiles. Recent studies have also suggested TIVA can reduce cancer recurrence and improve survival after cancer surgery - this is an exciting ongoing area of research.

This session aims to cover all things TIVA related, including choice of drugs and protocols, pitfalls, and shortcomings of TIVA.

Private Hospital Medical School Teaching

A/Prof. Stephanie Phillips

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1330 - 1430 | Meeting Room 205

The need to find more clinical training places for medical students and junior doctors has led to a significant increase in teaching in the private sector. This discussion will consider the many challenges this presents, including consent, pressure on work flow, staff and patient attitudes, remuneration of teachers and appropriate anaesthesia curriculum for undergraduates. Come prepared with your ideas that will improve the experience for all sides.

The Limits of Day Surgery and Morbid Obesity

Dr Adrian Sultana

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1330 - 1430 | Meeting Room 206

A 56-year-old volunteer fireman presents to your freestanding day surgery for “full dental clearance”. He weighs 157Kg and is 1.75 m tall giving him a BMI of 51.3 He is under treatment for hypertension and his wife says that he snores heavily.

Do we:

• Apologise and give him a cab charge for a ride home?

• Provide general anaesthesia?

• Book him into a tertiary hospital?

Points for Discussion:

• Limit or no limit?

• Is obesity per se a contraindication to day surgery?

• How does a freestanding unit differ from a co-located one?

• What is the incidence of complications with increasing BMI?

• How do obese patients benefit from the short-duration anaesthetic techniques?

• Is there a place for Day Case Bariatric Surgery?

Anaesthesia and Pre-eclampsia

Dr Victoria Eley

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1330 - 1430 | Meeting Room 214

Pre-eclampsia presents anaesthetists, practicing in all settings, with a variety of concerns. With a wide range of presentations and severity, pre-eclampsia has the potential to complicate anaesthetic care on labour ward, in theatre and to require increased levels of post-operative care.

This interactive small group discussion will present a series of clinical scenarios involving pre-eclampsia, for discussion within the group. Broad topics to be covered will be classification, diagnosis, pharmacological management and specific anaesthetic concerns.

Interscalene Block for Shoulder Surgery in the Beach Chair Position – Do We Need a GA?

Dr Hugh Pearce

Saturday, 17 September 2016, 1330 - 1430 | Meeting Room 215

Interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) is commonly used to provide postoperative analgesia in shoulder surgery, but in many patients surgery can be performed using ISB alone with patient sedation. The use of this approach with particular reference to beach-chair surgery will be discussed.

A short video of ultrasound-guided ISB will be shown, and then a brief overview of my existing practice using either supplementary intravenous sedation or GA, with a case experience of over 12,000 patients, will be used as a basis for group discussion.

Safety guidelines for anaesthesia in the beach-chair position (BCP) will be presented, as well as management of hypotensive- bradycardic episodes, with strategies to minimise their frequency.

Case discussion will follow where it may be considered desirable to avoid GA, and participants are encouraged to discuss their own approaches and experience relating to beach- chair surgery using GA with or without ISB.

Advance Care Directives (ACD) in Perioperative Care

Dr Zoe Keon-Cohen

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 0945 - 1045 | Meeting Room 206

Do you know what to do with an ACD when it turns up on your list? How does this apply to anaesthesia and surgery? Which patients do I refer from perioperative clinic to complete an ACD? We will consider: evidence for selection of patients for ACD; how to do an anaesthesia-specific and appropriate plan; understanding what is appropriate to consider for further discussion; futile treatments and how to help support teams and patients towards a timely personalized treatment plan.

Areas for discussion:

• Basic principles of an advance care directive.

• Legal obligations for medical practitioners of advance care directives.

• Specific features of a perioperative advance care directive.

• Limitations and risks of advance care directives.

• Ethical, religious and cultural differences influencing patient values.

• Methods and techniques to having the ‘end of life discussion’.

• Legislative and common law duties of ACDs in your state.

• Roles within inter-hospital units and communication between hospitals and community.

Anaesthesia and Obesity in Obstetrics

Dr Victoria Eley

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 0945 - 1045 | Meeting Room 214

Providing anaesthetic care to very obese maternity patients is a familiar situation to many anaesthetists. This challenging clinical scenario is arising more and more frequently with increasing BMI observed in Western populations.

This interactive session will present a number of clinical scenarios for discussion within the group, covering management in theatre, labour ward and the antenatal setting. Elements of anaesthetic care to be covered include: supervision of trainees, provision of after-hours services, interdisciplinary cooperation and communication.

Nerve Conduction Studies and Postoperative Management of Nerve Injuries

A/Prof. Lynette Kiers

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 0945 - 1045 | Meeting Room 215

Postoperative peripheral nerve injuries are a major source of distress and disability and figure prominently in litigation. The spectrum of iatrogenic nerve injuries has changed as surgical technology has evolved. Minimal access surgery does not mean minimal risk of peripheral nerve injury. Postoperative nerve injuries can result from direct surgical trauma, mechanical stress on a nerve due to faulty positioning during anaesthesia, the injection of neurotoxic substances into a nerve, and other mechanisms. Postoperative idiopathic brachial neuritis is a well-recognized clinical syndrome, thought to be immune mediated. Regional anaesthesia can also be associated with nerve injury. Nerve conduction and electromyogram (EMG) studies are invaluable for determining the presence of nerve injury, localization, severity, recovery and prognostication. This workshop will review the mechanisms of postoperative nerve injuries, present particular nerve lesions in a case-based format, and review the interpretation, diagnostic and prognostic role of electrodiagnostic studies.

How to Find your Mentor

Dr Phuong Pham

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 1100 - 1300 | Meeting Room 206

Are you interested in developing mentoring relationships with mentors but unsure how? Not sure how to make the most of available mentoring programs? Come to this interactive session where you will be empowered to adopt the ‘managing up’ mentee role and develop your own mentoring network. By reflecting on your own personal goals and values, you will identify the type of mentors you are looking for. By sharing stories and experiences, we will brainstorm strategies against barriers to successful mentoring. You should come away from the session feeling inspired to cultivate future mentoring relationships that will assist your professional, as well as personal development.

Holding Back the Tears: Treatment and Prevention of Paediatric Perioperative Anxiety (1)

Dr Anna Englin, Dr Valerie Taylor, Dr James Meyer-Grieve

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 1130 – 1230 | Meeting Room 214

What techniques do you use to manage children’s anxiety?

This is an interactive discussion aimed at occasional paediatric anaesthetists. We will discuss evidence-based pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of children’s anxiety. A child psychiatrist will join us to give a unique insight into children’s cognitive development, stress response and age- based communication techniques. Key points covered will include choosing premedication, techniques for smooth induction of anaesthesia, parental presence, and emergence delirium.

General Anaesthesia for Shoulder Surgery in the Beach Chair Position

Dr Steven Dimadis

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 1130 – 1230 | Meeting Room 215

The SGD will be based on the physiology and pathophysiology of the beach chair position, common complications of the surgery and regional anaesthesia relating to the shoulder. The discussion will be at a beginners to intermediate level so no previous experience is required. The aim is to be more comfortable if required to anaesthetise for this surgery.

Incident Reporting – The Human Factors

Dr John Williamson, Dr Suzy Cook

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 1315 - 1415 | Meeting Room 206

Anaesthesia incident reporting, first employed by Dr Geoffrey Cooper (a biomedical engineer!) and colleagues in the Massachusetts General Hospital in 1978, has proved to be one helpful clinical tool in furthering patient safety in anaesthesia practice and beyond. The impact of this reporting practice reinforces some valuable human lessons upon anaesthetists, which include humility, clinical honesty, removal of blame, trust in colleagues and ésprit de corps. Anaesthesia nursing morale is also improved. Participants gain insight into human error mechanisms and their prevention. This workshop will invite active participation and discussion around these points, with illustrations from actual clinical practice and previously published hard data. The interesting history of “critical incident reporting”, and the influence of anaesthesia incident reporting upon medical practice more widely, will emerge naturally from these discussions.

Holding Back the Tears: Treatment and Prevention of
Paediatric Perioperative Anxiety

Dr Anna Englin, Dr Valerie Taylor, Dr James Meyer-Grieve

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 1315 - 1415 | Meeting Room 214

What techniques do you use to manage children’s anxiety?

This is an interactive discussion aimed at occasional paediatric anaesthetists. We will discuss evidence-based pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of children’s anxiety. A child psychiatrist will join us to give a unique insight into children’s cognitive development, stress response and age- based communication techniques. Key points covered will include choosing premedication, techniques for smooth induction of anaesthesia, parental presence, and emergence delirium.

Local Infiltration Analgesia for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty

Dr Brian Pezzutti

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 1315 - 1415 | Meeting Room 215

Application of the principles of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) involves patient engagement, cognitive protection, nutrition maintenance, early mobilisation, fluid restriction, analgesia with minimal use of opioids and early discharge (1-2 days max). The aim is to return the patient to independent living at home with prevention of DVT/PE and with minimal cognitive loss. Patient engagement is the key.

This is a team effort pre, intra and post operatively involving Surgical, Anaesthesia, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Operating Theater, Physiotherapy and Acute Pain Service personnel.

The LBH program will be provided and discussion on how to achieve these results will be discussed.

Perioperative Approach to the Patient for Noncardiac Surgery on Antiplatelet Therapy

Dr Oliver David

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 1430 - 1530 | Meeting Room 206

Limited spots available

This group will discuss the approach to the patient presenting for elective surgery on anti-platelet therapy. Talking points will include management issues surrounding the patient with recent percutaneous coronary intervention, as well as stroke, and perioperative risk management.

Anaesthesia for Paediatric Tonsillectomy (2)

Dr Lindy Cass

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 1430 - 1530 | Meeting Room 214

Wait list is available

Anaesthesia for paediatric tonsillectomy is one of our more challenging anaesthetics carrying real risks of significant morbidity and (rarely) even mortality.

In this SGD, we will discuss:

• Obstructive sleep apnoea - the commonest indication for tonsillectomy in young children: which cases can be safely done as day cases, which children should be referred to a centre with a paediatric ICU?

• Respiratory tract infection - who should be postponed and for how long?

• Emergence delerium - is it predictable and how can it be minimised?

• Post-operative pain relief

Please bring along any interesting cases and questions.

Anaesthesia for Major and Maxillofacial and Shared Airway Surgery

Dr Richard Grutzner

Sunday, 18 September 2016, 1430 - 1530 | Meeting Room 215

Limited spots available

A healthy 27 year old woman is scheduled for a bimaxillary osteotomy and rhinoplasty as part of her orthodontic treatment.

Questions to consider prior to session:

• What is your plan for elective nasal intubation in a patient who is expected to be a difficult intubation?

• Discuss indications for and technique for delivery of hypotensive anaesthesia including appropriate monitoring.

Learning Objectives for the session:

• To understand airway assessment and preparation for a difficult intubation.

• To consider blood conservation techniques, including autologous pre-donation, haemodilution, tranexamic acid and transfusion criteria.

• To understand hypotensive anaesthesia techniques, including safety, monitoring, and choice of drugs.

• To understand the issues of shared airway surgery, including communication with the surgical team and change of airway device mid-procedure.

• To understand some of the controversies and benefits surrounding the use of dexamethasone.

• To understand the importance of smooth and timely emergence from anaesthesia and immediate post- operative management issues related to the airway and analgesia.

Preparing for Retirement

Dr Jean Allison

Monday, 19 September 2016, 0945 - 1045 | Meeting Room 206

Wait list is available

It is best to start preparing before the age of thirty, but it is not too late to start now. It is estimated that to live comfortably after retirement, one needs to save one million dollars. If necessary get a financial advisor to help save it. While working one should develop three hobbies - one that involves exercise, one that involves other people, one that one can do by oneself. Watching TV does not count as a hobby! It is an observed fact that people who attend a religious service weekly or more often are healthier than those who do not.

I don’t want to go to sleep!

Dr Mark Suss

Monday, 19 September 2016, 0945 - 1045 | Meeting Room 214

Your pre-adolescent patient turns their gaze from their electronic device just long enough to state very clearly, “I don’t want the operation”. They also don’t want to drink a premed.

What do you do?

Integrated Evidence into Anaesthesia Practice

Dr John Woodall

Monday, 19 September 2016, 0945 - 1045 | Meeting Room 215

Sources of heuristic biases include, the Law of Small Numbers, the Illusion of Validity and Regression to the Mean. We are prone to exaggerate consistency and coherence in what we observe, which engenders an exaggerated ‘faith’ in what clinicians and researchers learn from too few observations. This is the fundamental problem of empiricism, which Hume identified. This cognitive phenomenon resembles the ‘halo effect’: a sense that someone is ‘known’ or understood when little about the person is actually known. The dangers of interpretive confidence are particularly manifest in what is termed ‘historicism’, which is belief in a predictive science of history. Sir Peter Medawar credits the philosopher Karl Popper with ‘demolishing’ historicism, as Hume did with empiricism.

In his collection of essays on science Medawar highlights the distinction between expectation (hypothesis) and prediction that presents to foreknowledge. We discuss in light of the Poise 2 trails (NEJM, 370:1494-1510, 2014).

ASA Economics Advisory Committee (EAC) / Professional Issues Advisory Committee (PIAC) Q&A

Dr Mark Sinclair, Dr Antonio Grossi, Dr Renald Portelli, Dr Simon Reilly

Monday, 19 September 2016, 1100 - 1300 | Meeting Room 206

This combined presentation provides the opportunity to listen to four of the key players from the EAC and PIAC. This is an excellent opportunity for delegates to gain useful advice for workplace and financial matters. A number of current concerns will be considered, including the MBS review, financial ‘kickbacks’ from other specialists, task substitution, workforce problems, hospital accreditation, private health insurance, private hospital treatment costs, revalidation, pressures on health systems and the threat to professional autonomy, just to name a few. Participants are invited to bring along their own items for discussion. The presenters are Dr Mark Sinclair, EAC Chair, Dr Antonio Grossi, PIAC Chair, Dr Renald Portelli, Victoria State EAC Rep and Dr Simon Reilly, Victoria State PIAC Rep.

Anaesthetic Adaptations for Evolving Oesophagectomy Techniques

Dr Doug McEwan

Monday, 19 September 2016, 1315 - 1415 | Meeting Room 214

The surgical technique for oesphagectomy continues to evolve. I will discuss how anaesthesia techniques are co-evolving to assist with patient care for this procedure. I shall focus on ERAS and perioperative analgesia options. I shall draw on the experience of the GIAST unit and personal experience of over three hundred oesophagectomy anaesthetics.

Developing Leaders of High-performing Clinical Teams

Dr John Woodall

Monday, 19 September 2016, 1315 - 1415 | Meeting Room 215

Daniel Kahneman (2011) presents an erudite summary of (current) insights into “judgements and decision making” in a monograph entitled “Thinking Fast and Slow”. A large portion of these psychological studies conducted over a number of decades Kahneman attributes to collaborations with his colleague, the late Amos Tversky (see Science Vol. 185, 1974). For his part in these discoveries, in 2002 Kahneman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.

A salient insight from these and other studies is that our predilection for causal thinking exposes us to (potentially serious) errors, such as attributing cause(s) to phenomena that are by and large ‘random’. Cognitive illusions are analogous to optical illusions, although the former are less readily accepted and their effects on decision-making under appreciated.

Importantly, high performing clinical teams and their leaders encourage self-reflection, reappraisal and the use of cognitive aids, such as checklists (see Atul Gawande, 2009) to reduce errors.

Providing Effective Feedback to Trainees

Dr Kara Allen

Tuesday, 20 September 2016, 1045 - 1145 | Meeting Room 206

Wait list is available

Giving feedback can be a challenge in the context of teaching in the operating theatre time pressures, lack of privacy and limited exposure to trainees can result in either a lack of feedback or feedback poorly delivered. This session will present practical tips on how to have a feedback conversation for anyone in a teaching or in theatre supervision role, and we will discuss how to manage difficult conversations around poor performance. Several models of feedback will be discussed, with examples of real world situations to guide practice.

Persuasion – a Guide to More Effective Influence

Dr Andrew Ottaway

Tuesday, 20 September 2016, 1200 - 1300 | Meeting Room 206

Limited spots available

“What is distinctively human at the most fundamental level is the capacity to persuade and be persuaded” - so said philosopher Bertrand Russell. Persuasion is fundamental to our personal and professional lives, and is a key to the effective leadership of others. Based on an intensive two week course held every January at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Boston USA, and applicable to both oral and written forms of communication, this workshop will seek to illustrate skills and techniques we can apply in our everyday lives to make us more persuasive.