Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care
The Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care is dedicated to the study and practice of anaesthesia, pain management and intensive care medicine. It plays a crucial role in perioperative patient care, ensuring safe and effective anaesthesia administration while managing life-threatening conditions in critically ill patients. The Department integrates theoretical knowledge with extensive hands-on training to equip students with the skills required for airway management, mechanical ventilation, resuscitation techniques and advanced patient monitoring.
Through cutting-edge simulation technologies, students experience realistic clinical scenarios, enhancing their decision-making abilities and response times in high-pressure situations. The Department is also active in research on pain relief strategies, emergency medicine and innovative critical care interventions aimed at improving patient outcomes. Close collaboration with surgical, trauma and emergency teams ensures seamless coordination in managing complex medical and surgical cases.
Mission
To train students and healthcare professionals in anaesthesia and critical care, ensuring the safe administration of anaesthesia and the effective management of critically ill patients.
Vision
To be a leading department in anaesthesia and critical care education and research, advancing patient safety and emergency medicine.
Functions
The Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care plays a vital role in equipping students and healthcare professionals with the full spectrum of knowledge, technical skills and clinical judgment required for safe and effective anaesthetic and perioperative care. Training encompasses the entire patient journey, from preoperative assessment and preparation through intraoperative management to postoperative monitoring and recovery, with a strong emphasis on patient safety, evidence-based practice and multidisciplinary teamwork.
Students receive hands-on experience in administering general, regional and local anaesthesia, mastering airway management techniques and providing advanced life support in emergency and critical care situations. They are trained to operate and interpret data from sophisticated medical equipment, including ventilators, anaesthetic delivery systems, infusion pumps and intensive care monitoring devices. Simulation-based training in resuscitation, crisis management and pain relief techniques is integrated into the curriculum, enabling learners to develop competence and confidence in high-stakes medical environments.
Research within the Department focuses on advancing the science and practice of anaesthesia, pain management and critical care medicine. Projects explore innovative approaches to patient sedation, perioperative analgesia and anaesthetic pharmacology, as well as the development of protocols to improve outcomes in emergency and intensive care settings. Studies also address global health challenges such as optimising anaesthesia delivery in resource-limited settings, reducing perioperative complications, and enhancing recovery pathways.
In collaboration with hospital anaesthesia units and intensive care departments, the department provides critical clinical services, including support for complex surgical procedures, trauma care, obstetric anaesthesia, paediatric anaesthesia and post-anaesthesia care. It ensures that patient care adheres to the highest safety standards by incorporating current international guidelines and continuous quality improvement measures.
The Department also embraces emerging technologies such as ultrasound-guided anaesthesia, advanced patient monitoring systems, and telemedicine consultations for critical care management. By combining rigorous academic training, clinical excellence, research innovation and technological integration, it prepares graduates to meet the evolving demands of anaesthesia and critical care practice in Ghana and the global medical community.
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