Clinical risk management. Building provider awareness in the administration of anaesthesia

The area of anaesthesia has long been the focus of risk management concerns. This article will address a case study based on some of the high risk issues. Although the environment in which anaesthesia is administered is usually a carefully controlled area, the anaesthetic agents and the patient's response to them can be unpredictable. Injuries sustained as a result of anaesthetic administration and anaesthesia can be serious with life-long and costly disabilities and even death. Tables 1 and 2 highlight the Risk Management areas to address in anaesthesia and Tables 3 and 4 the risk issues which have occurred from over 20 years experience in the USA. (MMI Companies Inc. 1993). Many of these issues will be discussed in the case study scenario. Further reading around the risk issues will also be suggested.