Page 15 - 2022 Risk Basics - Anesthesiology

SVMIC Risk Basics: Anesthesiology

pre-anesthetic evaluation of the patent including, but not

limited to, the development of an anesthetic plan which
incorporates the patient’s current condition, co-existing

diseases, and postoperative care requirements. It is incumbent

on the anesthesiologist to document the anesthesia plan to
ensure the highest safety and quality of care for each patient.

Although non-physicians may contribute to the preoperative

collection and documentation of patient data, the
anesthesiologist has the duty to provide the preoperative

evaluation and care. Documenting the process is important,

should a claim later be asserted.

The anesthesiologist must discuss the anesthesia plan with the

patient, the patient’s guardian, or conservator of the patient,

explain the risks and benefits of the plan, and obtain informed
consent. This will be covered in greater detail in the section on

informed consent to follow, but generally, the discussion
should be documented in the record, and the patient should

acknowledge the discussion in a separate signed anesthesia-
specific informed consent document. If part of the anesthetic

care is to be performed by another anesthesia practitioner, this

should be explained to the patient during the pre-anesthesia
phase.

A complete pre-anesthetic evaluation that includes the airway

is essential to patient safety and must be documented.
Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) who receive

sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic

procedures are at a greater risk of an adverse outcome.
Therefore, in patients who have or are suspected to have OSA,

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