June 2002

APSF Continues E. C. Pierce Research Award Campaign

June 10, 2002

Dear Colleague: Some time ago, Ellison C. “Jeep” Pierce, Jr., MD, the 1984 President of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), conceived the idea of creating an entity that would...

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Data Dictionary Task Force (DDTF) Launches Initiative

June 10, 2002

A task force comprised of anesthesiologists and anesthesia information management systems manufacturers are now working together on a project whose ultimate goal is to improve patient safety. The Anesthesia Patient...

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Perioperative Beta-Blockade Can Reduce Morbidity and Mortality

June 10, 2002

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently identified the perioperative administration of beta-blockers as one of 11 specific practices with sufficient clinical-based evidence for patient safety to justify...

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March 2002

Vigilance, Knowledge Prevent MH Morbidity

March 10, 2002

Malignant hyperthermia (MH), discovered in 1960, became one of the anesthesiologist’s “worst nightmares” because it was so often fatal and only a very early diagnosis and discontinuation of trigger agents...

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FDA Responds, Continues Watch

March 10, 2002

The FDA strengthened the warnings of droperidol’s label due to reports that reflected a risk that was greater than that which was identified in the product label. The source of...

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Providers Need to Take Warning Seriously

March 10, 2002

To the Editor While the data linking droperidol to serious ventricular arrhythmias undergo appropriate scientific sifting and winnowing, we believe anesthesia providers should weigh seriously the FDA “black-box” warning regarding...

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FDA Should Reconsider Droperidol Warning

March 10, 2002

To the Editor The FDA has recently issued a warning concerning droperidol, and this warning was cited in the recent APSF Newsletter (Winter 2001-02). The FDA warning indicated that there...

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Research Grant Applications Solicited by APSF

March 10, 2002

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation announces the deadline of June 17, 2002, for receipt of applications for research grants to start January 1, 2003. Note: Grants are limited to the...

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1984 Symposium Launched APSF Idea

March 10, 2002

In October 1984, the International Symposium on Preventable Anesthetic Morbidity and Mortality (ISPAMM) met in Boston for the first time, with some 50 participants present from five English speaking nations...

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Curare Phase-Out Decried

March 10, 2002

To the Editor I write this letter to express my disappointment and discouragement because it appears that d-tubocurarine will no longer be available to the anesthesia practitioner. Having finished my...

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Dole Retires From Executive Committee

March 10, 2002

Burton A. Dole   Burton A. Dole is retiring from the APSF Executive Committee after serving for 17 years, first as treasurer and then as vice-president. At the time of...

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Chamoun and Schapiro Join Executive Committee

March 10, 2002

Nassib G. Chamoun George A. Schapiro   Nassib G. Chamoun and George A. Schapiro have recently been appointed to the APSF Executive Committee. Mr. Chamoun is a founder and President...

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Misuse of Forced-Air Warming Devices Causes Burns

March 10, 2002

Augustine Medical has initiated a campaign against “hosing” failing to attach a blanket to the hose of a forced-air warming unit. We have undertaken this initiative to raise clinicians’ awareness...

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Gas Delivery Mistakes Continue to Kill

March 10, 2002

Two recent deaths occurring at a New Haven, Connecticut, hospital serve as a painful reminder that pipeline and gas delivery errors continue to occur with lethal consequences. In these particular...

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Chemical Weapons Compromise Provider Safety Japanese Sarin Attacks Illustrate Huge Potential Risks

March 10, 2002

Historical Overview There were over one million casualties from chemical weapons during World War I, leading to approximately 90,000 deaths, and untold morbidity and misery. Though chemical warfare was widely...

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Threat of Radiologic Terrorism Increases Unfamiliar Patient Care and Safety Issues Mandate Preparedness

March 10, 2002

Unfamiliar Patient Care and Safety Issues Mandate Preparedness Since September 11, U.S. intelligence agencies have issued alerts that terrorists continue to plan for further attacks. In the past months, U.S....

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Bioterrorism May Overwhelm Medical Resources: New and Different Patient Safety Challenges Must Be Anticipated

March 10, 2002

New and Different Patient Safety Challenges Must Be Anticipated In the aftermath of the September 11 tragedies and subsequent anthrax mail deliveries, society and physicians scrambled to become familiar with...

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Special Issue: Anesthesiologists Now Must Prepare for Biologic, Nuclear, or Chemical Terrorism

March 10, 2002

You are the on-call anesthesiologist and receive a page from the chief of staff notifying you that a chemical terrorist attack has just occurred in your community. The disaster plan...

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December 2001

APSF Funds 3 New Research Grants for 2002

December 10, 2001

Three grants were again selected for funding by the APSF for the year 2002. The funded topics included a proposal to develop a microdialysis procedure to aid in the diagnosis...

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Recovery from Neuromuscular Blockade: How Much is Enough?

December 10, 2001

The use of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents as an adjunct to general anesthesia remains quite common. While some might argue against the frequent use of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents because...

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