Frequently Asked Questions:

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BASIC for Limited Resource settings (BASIC LR)

What is it?

BASIC LR is a short course, usually held over 3 days, which covers essential and fundamental aspects of care of the critically ill in limited resource settings.

Who is it aimed at?

Any doctors, medical officers, nurse anaesthetists who provide care to critically ill patients. There is a separate course aimed specifically at nurses.

What is the format?

The format is similar to ACLS, ATLS and BASIC. The course consists of course manual, brief clinically-based lectures, skill stations, e-learning and pre- and post-course tests. The course works on a cascading model with local instructors delivering the content after appropriate training. We also provide a mobile app which works offline (after downloading). This contains the entire course manual plus other additional resources to facilitate the care of critically ill patients.

How much does it cost?

There are no license fees for running BASIC LR. Course material is supplied in an electronic format. Course manuals can be printed locally from the supplied pdf (colour printing is recommended) or supplied at cost.

Who can run and teach courses?

The course director and the instructors must have attended a BASIC LR instructor course.

What topics are covered?

I. KEY ISSUES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS

• Assessment of the seriously ill patient
• Physiological basis of organ dysfunction

II. RESPIRATORY

• Respiratory physiology
• Airway management and airway obstruction
• Acute respiratory failure

III. CARDIOVASCULAR

• Applied cardiovascular physiology
• Fluids
• Shock
• Sepsis and septic shock
• Anaphylaxis

IV. NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES

• Brain physiology
• Coma
• Generalised status epilepticus
• Delirium
• Acute flaccid paralysis

V. METABOLIC DISORDERS

• Oliguria and acute renal failure
• Glucose and electrolyte disturbances

VI. SEVERE TRAUMA VII. SEVERE BURNS VIII. POST OPERATIVE CARE IX. OBSTETRICS

• Physiological changes in pregnancy
• Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
• HELLP syndrome
• Sepsis in obstetric patients
• Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)

X. SEVERE HEART DISEASES

• Acute coronary syndromes
• Severe acute heart failure
• Severe hypertension

XI. TOXICOLOGY

• Acute poisoning
• Snake bites

XII. SAFE AND EFFICIENT CARE

• Communication and team work
• Transport of the critically ill patient
• Nutritional support
• Blood transfusion
• Infection control
• Acute pain management
• Palliative care
• Occupational safety and health

Where has the course been run?

The course has been run in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

Is the course endorsed?

The course has been endorsed by the World Federation of Intensive and Critical Care Societies

What are the conditions for running a course?

• You acknowledge the source of the material.
• The material is used for non-commercial purposes. We are happy for course organizers to make a small profit but all profits must be used for Intensive Care education or research
• The course is registered with us and pre- and post-course MCQ answers are submitted to us online.
• Courses must include 75% of the overall course material and 75% of the skill station material.
• The number of candidates should not exceed 7 per skill station.

If you are interested in running a course please contact us for further details.

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