This concise book provides an introductory account of anaesthesia for trainees not necessarily going on to pursue anaesthesia as a career, such as medical undergraduates or ODAs, and for related groups such as postgraduate nurses or theatre nurse and postgraduate trainees in accident and emergency medicine, all of whom require a basic knowledge of the essentials of anaesthesia. Written by experienced teachers of anaesthesia, the book has a practical emphasis throughout, with chapters on topics ranging from the basic properties of anaesthetic drugs through preoperative assessment, equipment and monitoring, airway management, regional anaesthesia, fluid balance, blood and blood products, assessment of the critically ill and the management of adverse events. There is also an important, but often overlooked, chapter on professionalism in anaesthesia, dealing with issues of general conduct, teamwork, patient consent, crisis management, communications skills and the workings of the main professional organisations in anaesthesia. Wherever possible, the authors have drawn on their expertise as trainers to provide key learning objectives at the start of each chapter and useful case scenarios throughout the book, to aid understanding of key points.