I am privileged to have led the creation of the third edition of this popular Primary FRCA text, ably helped by my three co-editors. Once again, feedback from users of the book has helped enormously in developing FoA3. The Royal College of Anaesthetists' publication of the Primary syllabus within the Competency-based Training Framework has led us to include that knowledge base, uniquely referenced to Fundamentals, in a new Appendix. A number of new contributors have enhanced the proportion of current and past examiners amongst our writers. The greater use of colour allows the reader to navigate more easily, and changes to technique boxes make that information easier to assimilate. This edition contains a number of new chapters in addition to widespread updates, and has been thoroughly copy-edited by Hugh Brazier to an unrivalled standard of consistency over the previous editions.

Whilst all chapters have been reviewed, there are a number of significant changes.

• Section 1 contains a significantly updated chapter in the growing field of preoperative assessment, and a brand new chapter on resuscitation. The inclusion of the DAS algorithms for airway management is a particular bonus.

• In Section 2 Ted Lin has written an additional chapter specifically covering the physiology of pain, and Colin Pinnock has edited haematology to bring it more in line with the current syllabus.

• Section 3 has a new chapter on analgesic drugs, taking account of the substantial developments in this area. The new chapter on mechanisms of drug action puts clear emphasis on the current thinking on the mechanism of anaesthesia.

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