Professional documents Our professional documents, statements and guidelines are crucial for promoting the safety and quality of patient care for those undergoing anaesthesia for surgical and other procedures and for those receiving pain medicine treatment. These documents contain information relevant to the clinical, administrative and ethical practice of anaesthesia and/or pain medicine and are guided by the Document Framework Policy. A new classification system has been introduced that helps to give an indication of the type of document as noted below, and the discipline(s) to which it applies, in the form PX [number] (Y). X represents the type of document (policy, statement, guideline), and Y represents the discipline as follows: (G) = general (all disciplines) (A) = anaesthesia (PM) = pain medicine (POM) = perioperative medicine For example, PS [number] (A) - PS02(A) Position statement on credentialling and defining the scope of clinical practice in anaesthesia. There will be a transition period of three months during which the old classification will continue to be included in brackets at the end of the title. Professional documents Policies (denoted CP) are documents that formally state a principle, plan and/or course of action that is prescriptive and mandatory. Position statements (denoted PS) are documents that describe where the college stands on a particular issue. This may include areas that lack clarity or where opinions vary. A position statement is not definitive, prescriptive or binding. Guidelines (denoted PG) are documents that offer advice on a particular subject, that: Are ideally based on best practice recommendations and information. May be based on available evidence and/or expert consensus. Are not prescriptive. Select Document Download Type CP24(G) Policy for the development and review of professional documents (A01) PDF CP24(G)BP Policy for the development and review of professional documents Background Paper (A02BP) PDF PP01(PM): Policy for the development and review of professional documents PDF CP25(G) Policy on endorsement of externally developed guidelines (A02) PDF CP25(G)BP Policy on endorsement of externally developed guidelines Background Paper (A02BP) PDF PS01(PM): Statement regarding the use of opioid analgesics in patients with chronic non-cancer pain PDF PS01(PM) (Appendix): Opioid Dose Equivalence Calculation Table PDF PS02(A) Position statement on credentialling and defining the scope of clinical practice in anaesthesia (PS02) PDF PS02(A)BP Position statement on credentialling and defining the scope of clinical practice in anaesthesia Background Paper (PS02BP) PDF PG03(A) Guideline for the management of major regional analgesia (PS03) PDF PG03(A)BP Guideline for the management of major regional analgesia Background Paper (PS03BP) PDF PS04(A) Position statement on the post-anaesthesia care unit (PS04) PDF PS04(A)BP Position statement on the post-anaesthesia care unit Background Paper (PS04BP) PDF PG06(A) Guideline on the anaesthesia record (PS06) PDF PG06(A)BP Guideline on the anaesthesia record Background Paper (PS06BP) PDF PG07(A) Guideline on pre-anaesthesia consultation and patient preparation PILOT (PS07) PDF PG07(A)BP Guideline on pre-anaesthesia consultation and patient preparation Background Paper PILOT (PS07BP) PDF PS08(A) Position statement on the assistant for the anaesthetist (PS08) PDF PS08(A)BP Position statement on the assistant for the anaesthetist Background Paper (PS08BP) PDF PG09(G) Guideline on sedation and/or analgesia for diagnostic and interventional medical, dental or surgical procedures (PS09) PDF PG09(G)BP Guideline on sedation and/or analgesia for diagnostic and interventional medical, dental or surgical procedures Background Paper (PS09BP) PDF PS10(PM) Statement on "Medicinal Cannabis" with particular reference to its use in the management of patients with chronic non-cancer pain PDF PS10(PM) BP Statement on "Medicinal Cannabis" with particular reference to its use in the management of patients with chronic non-cancer pain Background paper PDF PS11(PM): Procedures in Pain Medicine Clinical Care Standard PDF PG12(POM) Guideline on smoking as related to the perioperative period (PS12) PDF PG12(POM)BP Guideline on smoking as related to the perioperative period Background Paper (PS12BP) PDF PS12(PM) Position statement on the use of ketamine in the management of chronic non-cancer pain PDF PS12(PM) BP Position statement on the use of ketamine in the management of chronic non-cancer pain Background paper PDF PG15(POM) Guideline for the perioperative care of patients selected for day stay procedures (PS15) PDF PG15(POM)BP Guideline for the perioperative care of patients selected for day stay procedures Background Paper (PS15BP) PDF PG18(A) Guideline on monitoring during anaesthesia (PS18) PDF PG18(A) Guideline on monitoring during anaesthesia Background Paper (PS18BP) PDF PS19(A) Position statement on monitored care by an anaesthetist (PS19) PDF PS26(A) Position statement on informed consent for anaesthesia or sedation (PS26) PDF PS26(A)BP Position statement on informed consent for anaesthesia or sedation Background Paper (PS26BP) PDF PG27(A) Guideline for major extracorporeal perfusion (PS27) PDF PG27(A)BP Guideline for major extracorporeal perfusion Background Paper (PS27BP) PDF PG28(A) Guideline on infection control in anaesthesia (PS28) PDF PG28(A)BP Guideline on infection control in anaesthesia Background Paper (PS28BP) PDF PG29(A) Guideline for the provision of anaesthesia care to children (PS29) PDF PG29(A)BP Guideline for the provision of anaesthesia care to children Background Paper (PS29BP) PDF PG31(A) Guideline on checking anaesthesia delivery systems (PS31) PDF PG31(A)BP Guideline on checking anaesthesia delivery systems Background Paper (PS31BP) PDF PG37(A) Guideline for health practitioners administering local anaesthesia (PS37) PDF PG37(A)BP Guideline for health practitioners administering local anaesthesia Background Paper (PS37BP) PDF PS40(G) Position statement on the relationship between fellows, trainees and the healthcare industry (PS40) PDF PS40(G)BP Position statement on the relationship between fellows, trainees and the healthcare industry Background Paper (PS40BP) PDF PG41(G) Guideline on acute pain management (PS41) PDF PS42(A) Position statement on staffing of accredited departments of anaesthesia (PS42) PDF PS42(A)BP Position statement on staffing of accredited departments of anaesthesia Background Paper (PS42BP) PDF PG43(A) Guideline on fatigue risk management in anaesthesia practice (PS43) PDF PG43(A)BP Guideline on fatigue risk management in anaesthesia practice Background Paper (PS43BP) PDF PS45(G) Position statement on patients' rights to pain management and associated responsibilities (PS45) PDF PG46(POM) Guideline on training and practice of perioperative cardiac ultrasound in adults (PS46) PDF PG46(POM)BP Guideline on training and practice of perioperative cardiac ultrasound in adults Background Paper (PS46BP) PDF PG49(G) Guideline on the health of specialists, specialist international medical graduates and trainees PILOT (PS49) PDF PG49(G)BP Guideline on the health of specialists, specialist international medical graduates and trainees Background Paper PILOT PDF PG50(A) Guideline on return to anaesthesia practice for anaesthetists (PS50) PDF PG50(A)BP Guideline on return to anaesthesia practice for anaesthetists Background Paper (PS50BP) PDF PG51(A) Guideline for the safe management and use of medications in anaesthesia (PS51) PDF PG51(A)BP Guideline for the safe management and use of medications in anaesthesia Background Paper (PS51BP) PDF PG52(G) Guideline for transport of critically ill patients (PS52) PDF PG52(G)BP Guideline for transport of critically ill patients Background Paper (PS52BP) PDF PS53(A) Position statement on the handover responsibilities of the anaesthetist (PS53) PDF PS53(A)BP Position statement on the handover responsibilities of the anaesthetist Background Paper (PS53BP) PDF PS54(A) Position statement on the minimum safety requirements for anaesthesia machines and workstations for clinical practice (PS54) PDF PS54(A)BP Position statement on the minimum safety requirements for anaesthesia machines and workstations for clinical practice Background Paper (PS54BP) PDF PS55(A) Position statement on minimum facilities for safe administration of anaesthesia in operating suites and other anaesthetising locations (PS55) PDF PS55(A)BP Position statement on minimum facilities for safe administration of anaesthesia in operating suites and other anaesthetising locations Background Paper (PS55BP) PDF PG56(A) Guideline on equipment to manage difficult airways (PS56) PDF PG56(A)BP Guideline on equipment to manage difficult airways Background Paper (PS56BP) PDF PS57(A) Position statement on duties of specialist anaesthetists (PS57) PDF PS57(A)BP Position statement on duties of specialist anaesthetists Background Paper (PS57BP) PDF PG58(A) Guideline on quality assurance and quality improvement in anaesthesia (PS58) PDF PG58(A)BP Guideline on quality assurance and quality improvement in anaesthesia Background Paper (PS58BP) PDF PS59(A) Position statement on roles in anaesthesia and perioperative care (PS59) PDF PS59(A)BP Position statement on roles in anaesthesia and perioperative care Background Paper (PS59BP) PDF PG60(POM) Guideline on the perioperative management of patients with suspected or proven hypersensitivity to chlorhexidine (PS60) PDF PG60(POM)BP Guideline on the perioperative management of patients with suspected or proven hypersensitivity to chlorhexidine Background Paper (PS60BP) PDF PG61(A) Guideline for the management of evolving airway obstruction: transition to the Can’t Intubate Can’t Oxygenate airway emergency (PS61) PDF PG61(A)BP Guideline for the management of evolving airway obstruction: transition to the Can’t Intubate Can’t Oxygenate airway emergency Background Paper (PS61BP) PDF PS62(G) Position statement on cultural competence (PS62) PDF PS62(G)BP Position statement on cultural competence Background Paper (PS62BP) PDF PG63(A) Guideline for safe care for patients sedated in health care facilities for acute behavioural disturbance (PS63) PDF PG63(A)BP Guideline for safe care for patients sedated in health care facilities for acute behavioural disturbance Background Paper (PS63BP) PDF PS64(G) Position statement on environmental sustainability in anaesthesia and pain medicine practice (PS64) PDF PS64(G)BP Position statement on environmental sustainability in anaesthesia and pain medicine practice Background Paper (PS64BP) PDF PG65(G) Guideline for the performance assessment of a peer (PS65) PDF PG65(G)BP Guideline for the performance assessment of a peer Background Paper (PS65BP) PDF PG66(A) Guideline on the role of the anaesthetist in commissioning medical gas pipelines (PS66) PDF PG66(A)BP Guideline on the role of the anaesthetist in commissioning medical gas pipelines Background Paper (PS66BP) PDF PG67(G) Guideline for the care of patients at the end-of-life who are considered for surgery or interventional procedures (PS67) PDF PG67(G)BP Guideline for the care of patients at the end-of-life who are considered for surgery or interventional procedures Background Paper (PS67BP) PDF PG68(A) Guideline on surgical patient safety for SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination PDF Download selected The following professional documents have been withdrawn: PS01 Recommendations on essential training for rural general practitioners in Australia proposing to administer anaesthesia. PS38 Statement relating to the relief of pain and suffering and end of life decisions. PS44 Guidelines to fellows acting on appointments committees for senior staff in anaesthesia. Other college documents These statements undergo a deliberative process within the college committee structure and require approval by the oversight committee, or the ANZCA Council, prior to publication. Select Document Download Type ANZCA COVID-19 PPE Statement PDF GP Anaesthetists in metropolitan centres PDF Marriage equality statement PDF Position statement - Health of People Seeking Asylum PDF Position statement on the use of slow-release opioid preparations in the treatment of acute pain PDF Promoting good practice and managing poor performance in anaesthesia and pain medicine PDF Statement on principles for identifying and preventing opioid-induced ventilatory impairment (OIVI) PDF Statement on the role of ANZCA in advocating for the health and wellbeing of all people PDF Position statement on procedures in pain medicine PDF Proposal for practice guideline - Low dose ketamine infusion in the management of chronic non-cancer pain < 1 | 2 > Download selected Endorsed guidelines and joint statements We have contributed to or endorsed a selection of guidelines and statements developed by other organisations. Guidelines developed by external organisations on aspects of the practice of anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and/or pain medicine that have been formally endorsed by the ANZCA Council are listed below. FPM policies, standards, position statements and guidelines that have been endorsed by the FPM Board are listed below. Acute Anaphylaxis Clinical Care Standard Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare and endorsed by ANZCA. Note: this Standard covers management of anaphylaxis outside the operating theatre or intensive care unit (ICU). For management of anaphylaxis inside theatre or ICU, please refer to ANZAAG Anaphylaxis Management Guidelines. Advisory statement on the storage of propofol in clinical settings Jointly developed with the Health Quality and Safety Commission New Zealand and the Ministry of Health. Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare and endorsed by ANZCA. ANZAAG Perioperative Anaphylaxis Management Guidelines Management and diagnosis cards jointly developed with ANZCA. Guideline | Background Paper | Adult Immediate | Paediatric Immediate | Adult Refractory | Paediatric Refractory | Differential Diagnosis | Post Crisis Management Australian open disclosure framework Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Best practice guide for continuous practice improvement Developed by the Council of Medical Colleges of New Zealand. Call for Australia's ratification of the OPCAT Supported by ANZCA. Central line insertion and maintenance guideline Developed by the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society. Clinical indicators Managed by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. Clinical practice guidelines on hypertension and pre-eclampsia in pregnancy Produced by the New Zealand Ministry of Health. Colonoscopy clinical care standard Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Delirium clinical care standard Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Epidural anaesthesia Joint statement by the ANZCA President Dr Vanessa Beavis and RANZCOG President Dr Vijay Roach. Factsheet: Identification of neural route medicines, fluids and lines Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Guidelines for helping people to stop smoking Developed by the New Zealand Ministry of Health. Guidelines for the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting Developed by the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia. A joint statement supporting user-applied labelling standardisation for all injectable medicines and fluids Joint statement of ANZCA and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Malignant hyperthermia resource kit Developed by Malignant Hyperthermia Australia and New Zealand. Management of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters Clinical Care Standard Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Management of severe local anaesthetic toxicity Developed by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland. National standard for user-applied labelling of injectable medicines, fluids and lines Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Neural connector devices to reduce misconnection errors – advice for every anaesthetist and pain medicine practitioner Developed by ANZCA. Neural connector devices to reduce misconnection errors – guidelines for implementation in Australia Jointly developed with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. OSSIE guide to clinical handover improvement Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Osteoarthritis of the knee clinical care standard Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Patient blood management guidelines Developed by the National Blood Authority. Perioperative anaphylaxis management guidelines Jointly developed with the Australian and New Zealand Anaesthetic Allergy Group. Periprocedural Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) with SGLT2 Inhibitor Use Jointly developed with the Australian Diabetes Association. Position paper on day surgery in Australia Jointly developed with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. Sepsis Clinical Care Standard Developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Standards for resuscitation: clinical practice and education Jointly developed by the Australian Resuscitation Council and the New Zealand Resuscitation Council. Position statement on the provision of obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia services Jointly developed with Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Trauma Verification Program Model Resource Criteria Developed by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Trauma Verification Committee. Topical application of chlorhexidine and risks of accidental injection in regional anaesthesia and vascular access procedures Jointly developed with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Airway management resources Access a wide range of resources related to airway management through the ANZCA Library. Find out more