Anaesthetists' attitudes to intraoperative death

A recent survey in the British Medical Journal reported the attitudes of orthopaedic surgeons towards the intraoperative death of a patient. Several replies to this article were from anaesthetists, who pointed out that other staff might be affected by 'death on the table'. We designed a questionnaire survey to assess the attitudes of anaesthetists, concerning intraoperative death.

Three hundred anonymized questionnaires were distributed to 12 anaesthetic departments throughout England.

Two hundred and fifty-one replies were received (84% response rate); 92% of respondents had experienced an intraoperative death, the majority of deaths being expected (60%) and non-preventable (77%), occurring mainly during emergency surgery (80%), particularly involving vascular surgery (41% of cases); 87% had administered another general anaesthetic in the following 24 h, most without their professional ability being compromised (77%).

This survey shows that anaesthetists are highly likely to experience intraoperative death, the consequences of which can be extremely stressful. Although the majority of anaesthetists (71%) agreed that it was reasonable for medical staff not to take part in operations for 24 h after an intraoperative death, fewer (25%) thought the proposal practicable. Nevertheless, all departments should provide for the discontinuation of further operations, if the circumstances require it. Consideration should be given by all departments of anaesthesia towards the prevention of intraoperative death, and the management of its aftermath, including the provision of support for psychologically traumatized staff.