Page 20 - Part 2 Anesthesiology Common Risk Issues

SVMIC Anesthesiology: Common Risk Issues

anesthesia personnel so that all team members are familiar

with their role in fire management

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation also offers a very
powerful video on fire prevention and management in the OR,

which many anesthesia practices mandate as required viewing.
7
Periodic emergency simulations as referred to in the previous

section should include OR fires.

Anesthesia Awareness

Patient awareness under general anesthesia is a rare condition

(estimated to affect 1/1000 patients) that occurs when
surgical patients can recall their surroundings, an event, and

even pressure or pain following their procedure. Anesthetic
awareness is not the same as remembering some of the events

surrounding the procedure such as pre-operative and post-
operative activities nor is it “dreaming” during the procedure,

both of which are normal.

Most patients who have experienced true anesthetic awareness

have brief, vague recollections of the events; but depending on
the person and the type of procedure, anesthetic awareness

can be disturbing and even traumatic, especially if pain is
experienced. It is the patient who suffers this type of awareness

who typically asserts a malpractice claim against the anesthesia
provider.

The causes of anesthetic awareness can vary. Common

causes include inadequate anesthesia and equipment failure/
misuse. It also occurs more frequently in patients with multiple

medical conditions and certain procedures such as emergency

7 https://www.apsf.org/videos/or-fire-safety-video/

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