February 2018

2017 APSF/ASA Ellison C. Pierce, Jr., MD, Patient Safety Memorial Lecture: Anesthesia Patient Safety: Closing the Gap Between Perception and Reality

February 1, 2018

The APSF/ASA Ellison C. Pierce Patient Safety Memorial lecture is dedicated to recognizing the contributions to anesthesia patient safety of Ellison C. Pierce, Jr., MD, the founding president of the...

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President’s Annual Report: “That No Patient Shall Be Harmed By Anesthesia…”

February 1, 2018

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation’s (APSF’s) vision statement is clear, “That no patient shall be harmed by anesthesia.” What does that mean, though? In the past, many anesthesia professionals, especially...

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HCA-Infections: Can the Anesthesia Provider be at Fault?

February 1, 2018

Richard C. Prielipp, MD, MBA, FCCM, professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Minnesota, introduced this provocative and timely topic on October 21, 2017, at the ASA Annual Meeting by...

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We Should Focus On “When” As Well As “Whom” to Monitor for Postoperative Opioid-Induced Ventilatory Impairment

February 1, 2018

Postoperative opioid-induced ventilatory impairment (OIVI) is a preventable cause of high severity injuries to patients and many organizations have focused efforts on this patient safety issue over the last two...

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Opioid-Induced Ventilatory Impairment: An Ongoing APSF Initiative

February 1, 2018

A substantial number of preventable deaths and other adverse events are associated with opioid-induced ventilatory impairment (OIVI).1 In fact, opioids are the most common category of drugs prescribed in U.S....

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2017 Marks 30 Years of APSF Research Grants

February 1, 2018

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) has awarded nearly $12 million in funding for anesthesia patient safety research projects over its 30-year history. There were very few funding opportunities for...

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October 2017

APSF Website Offers Online Educational DVDs

October 10, 2017

Visit the APSF website (www.apsf.org) to view the following DVDs and request a complimentary copy. Opioid-Induced Ventilatory Impairment (OIVI) : Time for a Change in the Monitoring Strategy for Postoperative...

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ASA/APSF Featured Session: Postoperative Infections: Can the Anesthesia Provider Be at Fault?

October 10, 2017

Postoperative Infections: Can the Anesthesia Provider Be at Fault? Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Saturday, October 21, 2017 David J. Birnbach, MD APSF Board of Directors Boston...

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ASA/APSF Featured Session: Assessing and Analyzing the Perceptions of Perioperative Professionals On Neuromuscular Blockade Monitoring and Residual Neuromuscular Blockade

October 10, 2017

Assessing and Analyzing the Perceptions of Perioperative Professionals On Neuromuscular Blockade Monitoring and Residual Neuromuscular Blockade Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Saturday, October 21, 2017 Boston Convention...

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Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Announces the Procedure for Submitting Grant Applications

October 10, 2017

ANNOUNCES THE PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING GRANT APPLICATIONS DEADLINE TO SUBMIT LETTERS OF INTENT (LOIs) FOR AN APSF GRANT TO BEGIN JANUARY 1, 2019 IS FEBRUARY 12, 2018 • LOIs will...

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ASA/APSF Ellison C. Pierce Jr., MD, Patient Safety Memorial Lecture: Anesthesia Patient Safety:Closing the Gap Between Perception and Reality

October 10, 2017

Anesthesia Patient Safety: Closing the Gap Between Perception and Reality Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Saturday, October 21, 2017 Boston Convention Center (Room 259 A/B) 1:10 –...

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How Standardization Can Improve OR Efficiency, Clinical Outcomes, and Patient Safety

October 10, 2017

To the Editor: Standardizing evidence-based best practices is a key to delivering high-value, efficient care that promotes patient satisfaction. However, that standardization should not be a one-size-fits-all approach, which can...

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New Ways Explored to Promote Emergency Manual Simulation Training in China

October 10, 2017

Health care providers can respond to emergencies more efficiently by using operating room (OR) emergency manuals (EMs) because EMs allow rapid management with established guidelines.1 A simulation-based randomized trial demonstrated...

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Essential Elements for Successful Implementation of an Intraoperative Handoff Communication Tool

October 10, 2017

Introduction: Most preventable adverse events in medicine are caused by communication errors and more than half of these occur in relation to care transitions. Hudson et al. found a 43%...

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Low Flow and CO2 Absorbents

October 10, 2017

Dear Q&A, Our hospital leases several GE-Datex Aespire anesthesia machines from GE and we rely on the GE service warranty with regular visits by the GE service technician for proper...

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Multicenter Handoff Collaborative

October 10, 2017

Communication and team-based care are at the heart of patient safety. As anesthesia professionals, we witness this at its very best and worst when transferring patients to and from the...

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Should Transdermal Drug Patches Containing Metal Be Removed During Procedures Using Electrocautery Because of the Risk of a Burn Injury?

October 10, 2017

Dear Q&A, I am writing to inquire regarding risks to a patient when a transdermal medication patch is left in place in the setting of electrocautery for surgery. It came...

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Distractions in the Anesthesia Work Environment: Impact on Patient Safety? Report of a Meeting Sponsored by the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

October 10, 2017

Reprinted with permission from Anesthesia & Analgesia 2017;125:347–350. DOI: Copyright © 2017 International Anesthesia Research Society. All rights reserved. Distractions in the perioperative work environment can adversely affect vigilance, situation...

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The Evidence Base for Optimal Conduct of Handoffs

October 10, 2017

We submit that the preponderance of published literature suggests that perioperative handoffs are associated with patient harm, and that this harm may be mitigated by handoff standardization. However, many questions...

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Tranexamic Acid in Obstetric Hemorrhage

October 10, 2017

Postpartum Hemorrhage Postpartum hemorrhage complicates approximately 3% of U.S. deliveries and is most often due to uterine atony.1 Hemorrhage is the leading cause of severe maternal morbidity and contributes to...

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