Page 12 - Part 2 Anesthesiology Common Risk Issues

SVMIC Anesthesiology: Common Risk Issues

Anesthesia in 1993 (and still relevant today) provides a plan of

action to combat the lack of knowledge and experience.
3

By the end of the 1980s, the creation and universal application
of the strategies of intraoperative anesthesia safety monitoring

were in effect, and the anesthesia catastrophes became even
rarer. Continuous patient and anesthesia delivery system

monitoring with the addition of electronic monitors permitted
minute-to-minute monitoring of patient oxygenation and

ventilation. As a consequence, the anesthesia team was alerted
to potential problems that have, in the past, led to patient injury

and catastrophe. The alarm itself indicated how to resolve the
potential mishap before actual injury occurred. As a result, the

frequency and severity of intraoperative patient-injury accidents
decreased dramatically. Thus, a significant component of the

previously traditional training and experience of anesthesia
practitioners was functionally eliminated.

According to Dr. John Eichhorn, noted anesthesia patient safety
innovator, and APSF Newsletter founder and editor, the average

new practitioner can expect to be involved in a catastrophic
patient-injury accident once in a career. Every anesthesia

practitioner needs a plan of action to respond to a patient-injury
intraoperative accident, and the Adverse Event Protocol is the

most effective plan of action. Many ORs and OR suites now
have instant Internet access. Adding the website www.apsf.

org to your favorites is a quick and efficient way to utilize this
resource. If Internet access is unavailable, emergency protocol

checklists should be taped to monitors for quick reference.

The basic Adverse Event Protocol plan is outlined as follows.

3 https://www.apsf.org/patient-safety-resources/clinical-safety-tools/adverse-event-protocol/

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