Creating a Cognitive Aid for Use During Intraoperative Power Failures.

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Intraoperative power failure (IOPF) presents significant risks to surgical patients and can be stressful for operating room teams.
• Effective management strategies are crucial to mitigate adverse outcomes during IOPFs.
• Existing protocols may not adequately prepare providers for the complexities of power disruptions during procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an evidence-based, facility-specific cognitive aid (CA) for anesthesia professionals to manage intraoperative power failures (IOPFs).
• To enhance patient management and improve outcomes during IOPFs through guided decision-making.
• To incorporate practical data on essential anesthesia equipment's battery-power capabilities into the CA.

Main Methods:

• A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) led the pilot project to create the cognitive aid.
• Essential anesthesia equipment, including anesthesia gas machines, IV pumps, and vital sign monitors, underwent battery-power capability testing.
• A needs assessment survey was distributed to anesthesia professionals to gather feedback and ensure clinician buy-in.

Main Results:

• The project successfully created a facility-specific cognitive aid (CA) tailored for intraoperative power failure (IOPF) scenarios.
• Data on the battery-power duration of critical anesthesia equipment was collected and integrated into the CA.
• Anesthesia professionals provided feedback through a needs assessment survey, contributing to the CA's development.

Conclusions:

• The developed cognitive aid (CA) serves as a valuable tool for anesthesia providers facing intraoperative power failures (IOPFs).
• Incorporating equipment battery-life data enhances the CA's practical utility for real-time decision-making.
• This initiative demonstrates a proactive approach to improving patient safety and OR team preparedness during power disruptions.