Sub-Hood Gas Evacuation: A Burning Issue

To the Editor Operating room fires are of great concern to the practicing anesthesiologist. The ECRI Institute estimates that approximately 550 to 600 surgical fires occur each year. The 3...

Pediatric Transfusion and Hyperkalemia

Letters to the Editor Reader Asks About Potassium Filters To the Editor I was reading the article “Preventing Pediatric Transfusion-Associated Incidents of Hyperkalemic Cardiac Arrest”. I personally was involved with...

USP-797 Guidelines Raise Concerns

To the Editor As a member of the anesthesia community I want to make sure that the APSF is aware of the following matter that could affect timely care of...

APSF gratefully acknowledges an educational grant from Covidien

APSF Announces Availability of Recently Released Educational DVDs

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 PCA...

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) announces the availability of the 18-minute educational Video: Prevention and Management of Operating Room Fires

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) announces the availability of the 18-minute educational video: View the DVD on the APSF website (www.apsf.org)   Request a complimentary copy of the DVD...

Board of Directors Workshop: Competence and Team Work are Not Enough: Implementing Emergency Manuals and Checklists

Competence and Team Work are Not Enough: Implementing Emergency Manuals and Checklists Saturday, October 11, 2014 New Orleans Morial Convention Center Great Hall Ball (2 PM – 4 PM)

ASA/APSFEllison C. Pierce, Jr., MD, Patient Safety Memorial Lecture:Competence and Teamwork Are Not Enough: The Value of Cognitive Aids

ASA/APSF Competence and Teamwork Are Not Enough: The Value of Cognitive Aids Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Saturday, October 11, 2014 New Orleans Morial Convention Center Great...

AAMI Salutes Eight Professionals For Contributions to Health Care Technology

Each year, AAMI honors leaders, visionaries, and innovators who have made a positive difference in health care technology. The AAMI Awards Committee sifted through scores of nominations to consider who...

Refractory Airway Hemorrhage in a Patient on Apixaban

The advent of novel oral anticoagulants is shifting the management of bleeding care in the operating room. As more patients transition to these new anticoagulants, which lack specific antidotes, it...

What is the Incidence and Common Cause of Anesthetic Death in 2014?

Dear Q&A, What is the incidence and common cause of anesthetic death in 2014? Brian Hall, MD Department of Anesthesiology Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN Dear Dr. Hall, Thank you for...

Medicolegal Data Implicate Oxygen as Common Factor in OR Fires

Many concerns for patient safety prompt anesthesia professionals to increase the FiO2 level above 30% during surgery. These concerns include adequate oxygenation and prevention of anoxic end organ injuries, increased...

Flammable Surgical Preps Require Vigilance

Basis The “fire triangle,” or “fire triad,” is taught throughout general fire safety education and is used as a point of emphasis for surgical fire prevention. Fire is the result...

When Compromise is Not Good: Safety Hazards of Cracked and Broken Bottles

To the Editor A 59-year-old female was scheduled at our outpatient surgery center for a left breast lumpectomy for recurrent breast carcinoma. Our anesthetic plan included the intravenous administration of...

Increased Awareness of Processing Risks with Laryngeal Mask Airways

To the Editor Laryngeal Mask Airways (LMAs) are used routinely during general anesthesia. Vigilance toward possible airway obstruction is important even when LMAs are optimally placed. A broad differential diagnosis,...

Cap Obstructs CO2 Sampling

To the Editor We recently discovered an interesting finding with our circuit after failing to document end-tidal CO2 during bag-mask ventilation after induction. Upon further inspection of the circuit, we...

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) announces the availability of the 18 minute educational video: Prevention and Management of Operating Room Fires

Prevention and Management of Operating Room Fires View the DVD on the APSF website (www.apsf.org) Request a complimentary copy of the DVD on the APSF website (www.apsf.org)

APSF Announces Availability of Recently Released Educational DVDs

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 PCA...

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) announces the availability of the 18 minute educational video: Medication Safety in the Operating Room: Time for a New Paradigm

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) announces the availability of the 18 minute educational video: View the DVD on the APSF website (www.apsf.org) Request a complimentary copy of the DVD...

Which System Should be Used for Waste Anesthetic Gas Disposal?

Dear Q&A, Is there any literature or documentation that speaks about the benefits or hazards of a waste anesthetic gas disposal (WAGD) outlet versus a vacuum outlet for scavenging? The...