Located in the Golden Jubilee Block of the Armed Forces Medical College, the Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care at the Armed Forces Medical College is staffed with meritorious and dedicated faculty, and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. Its mission is “To train the young doctor so as to mould him into a safe Anaesthesiologist, endowed with the aptitude of a physician, above par academic ability, enthusiasm and dynamism, humane nature, understanding of team spirit, mental stability, sense of humour, and conscientiousness.”

A BRIEF HISTORY

Far removed from its current state, the department had humble beginnings. It started as a postgraduate department in February 1960. The first postgraduate instructor to be assigned to this department was Major S Thirumalai. It was initially recognized for conducting Diploma courses in Anaesthesiology and subsequently for MD course on 01 February 1968.The Department relocated to its current location in the Golden Jubilee Block in 1998.
The Department has kept pace with the evolution of Anaesthesia as a speciality across the globe. In fact it has the distinction of being the first medical college in the country to acquire and impart training on the state of the art Human Patient Simulator.
From its earlier confines of pure postgraduate training, undergraduate teaching is now an important aspect of the department. In addition, training of medical officers and paramedical staff including nursing officers and nursing assistants is also undertaken. This training mainly involves life-saving skills and techniques of emergency airway management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and management of other common emergencies in critical care. Post graduate training however continues to be the pivotal focus of departmental teaching.

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING SCHEDULE

The department is recognized by the MCI for an annual intake capacity of fifteen postgraduate residents for the MD course in Anaesthesia and two residents for the Diploma course in Anaesthesia. In-service candidates from the Armed Forces form the bulk of the intake. Both these courses are certified and examined by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik.
Postgraduate training in anaesthesia is an organized programme of three years duration, and is split into three phases. The course content is kept contemporary in view of the changing demands of the profession.

Phase I training is a mix of didactic lectures and hands on learning of basic skills in anaesthesia. Phase II and III are intensely practical with management of increasingly complex cases. In addition, postgraduates are engaged in analysis of review articles, journal club, morbidity & mortality sessions, symposia and case presentations. They are also encouraged to participate in the proceedings of the Pune chapter of the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists and make presentations. In addition managing critically ill cases in the operating theatres and ICU during off hours gives the residents the opportunity to handle emergencies.

UNDERGRADUATE TRAINING

Undergraduate training in Anaesthesiology keeps the students abreast with the basics of resuscitation and emergency management -the two key requisites for all clinicians. The sessions with the undergraduates include demonstration on the Human Patient Simulator and training on special mannequins for intubation, establishment of intravenous lines, etc.

TRAINING OF PARAMEDICAL STAFF

Training of paramedical staff is an integral part of Anaesthesiology. The department actively enhances the skill set of the paramedical staff by imparting them training in management of emergencies,  resuscitation of patients, transport of critically ill, management of ICU patients and critical care nursing.