Curriculum

The KPSA PEP curriculum includes 46 CE units and is delivered entirely online. Courses are accessible from any location with internet access.

The curriculum is divided into four comprehensive courses:

Course 1: Basics of Anesthesia Technology (14 CE Units)

• Professional Aspects, Ethics & Safety (2.5 CE): Includes Joint Commission standards, regulatory compliance, OR fire safety, and scope of practice.
• Anatomy & Physiology Review (2 CE)
• Electrical Safety & Systems (0.5 CE)
• Anesthesia Gas Machine (5 CE): Covers system principles, flow/volume/pressure mechanics, vaporizers, safety features, CO₂ removal, calibration, and troubleshooting.
• Non-Invasive & Basic Monitoring (1 CE): Arterial line, CVP, PA catheter overview.
• IV Therapy (0.5 CE): Insertion techniques and equipment.
• Basic & Emergency Airway Management (1 CE): Techniques, endotracheal tubes, blades, and equipment.
• Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) (1.5 CE): MH cart, pharmacology (Dantrolene, Mannitol, Lasix), and management protocols.

Course 2: Special Surgical Populations (15 CE Units)

• Pediatric Anesthesia (2 CE): Pediatric airway, IV setup, and common surgical considerations.
• Trauma Anesthesia (2 CE): GSWs, MVAs, burns, emergency procedures, and massive transfusion protocols.
• Cardiac Anesthesia (5 CE): TEE, cardiovascular surgeries (CABG, AVR, TVAR, TMAR), pathophysiology, and ECG rhythm interpretation.
• Transplant, OB & Regional Anesthesia (6 CE): OB hemorrhage, organ failure, transplant considerations, obesity, geriatrics, and neuroanesthesia.

Course 3: Pharmacology (8 CE Units)

• Units of Measure and Terminology (0.5 CE)
• Inhalational Agents (1 CE)
• Neuromuscular Blocking Agents (1 CE)
• Sedatives and Hypnotics (1 CE)
• Opioids (1 CE)
• IV Therapy (Theory and Blood Products) (1 CE)
• Emergency Medications (Vasopressors, Cardiac Drugs) (2 CE)
• Ancillary Medications (0.5 CE)

Course 4: Advanced Principles of Anesthesia Technology (9 CE Units)

• Advanced Instrumentation & Concepts (2.5 CE): One-lung ventilation, TEG, POC testing, ABG analysis.
• Ultrasonography (1 CE): TEE, regional ultrasound techniques.
• Cell Salvage (Autotransfusion) (2 CE): Indications, contraindications, and equipment use.
• Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (1 CE): Concepts, setup, and considerations.
• Regional Anesthesia (1 CE): Local anesthetics, LAST, spinal, epidural, and peripheral nerve blocks with ultrasound guidance.
• ACLS (1.5 CE): Dysrhythmias and emergency algorithms.