Risk and error in veterinary practice – Anaesthesia

spotlight topic:

Anaesthesia

Published 20 April 2022 | Updated 16 February 2023

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  • Brodbelt, D.C. et al. (2008) Results of the confidential enquiry into perioperative small animal fatalities regarding risk factors for anesthetic-related death in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 233 (7), pp. 1096-1104. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.233.7.1096
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  • Hollwarth, A.J. et al (2022) Mortality outcomes based on ASA grade in avian patients undergoing general. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, 41, pp. 14-19. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2022.02.001
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  • Hartnack, S. et al. (2013) Critical incidence reporting systems–an option in equine anaesthesia? Results from a panel meeting. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 40 (6), pp. e3-e8. https://doi.org/10.1111/vaa.12065
  • McMillan, M. and Darcy, H. (2016) Adverse event surveillance in small animal anaesthesia: an intervention-based, voluntary reporting audit. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 43 (2), pp. 128-135. https://doi.org/10.1111/vaa.12309
  • Hofmeister, E.H. et al. (2014) Development, implementation and impact of simple patient safety interventions in a university teaching hospital. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 41 (3), pp. 243-248. https://doi.org/10.1111/vaa.12124
  • Brashear, M. (2022) How to reduce anaesthetic risk in geriatric patients. The Veterinary Nurse, 13 (1), pp. 36-40. https://doi.org/10.12968/vetn.2022.13.1.36
  • McMillan, M. (2014) Checklists in veterinary anaesthesia: why bother (editorial). Veterinary Record, 175 (22), pp. 556-559. https://org/10.1136/vr.g7515
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  • Mair, A. (2020) Using checklists to improve patient safety during anaesthesia. In Practice, 42 (6), pp. 316-322. https://doi.org/10.1136/inp.m2286
  • Portier, K. and Ida, K.K. (2018) The ASA Physical Status Classification: what is the evidence for recommending its use in veterinary anesthesia?—A systematic review. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 5: 204. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00204
  • Guidelines for safer anaesthesia [Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists][online]. Available from: https://ava.eu.com/resources/anaesthesia-guidelines/ [accessed 14 April 2022]
  • Anaesthesia records & checklists [Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists][online]. Available from: https://ava.eu.com/resources/checklists/ [accessed 14 April 2022]
  • Kelly, F.E. et al. (2023) Human factors in anaesthesia: a narrative review. Anaesthesia. https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.15920
  • Kelly, F.E. et al. (2023) Implementing human factors in anaesthesia: guidance for clinicians, departments and hospitals. Anaesthesia. https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.15941

For an example of how an anaesthetic near miss could be dealt with in practice you may be interested in

Shared leadership – we’re better together [RCVS Knowledge. QI Features][online]. Available from: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-events/features/shared-leadership/ [accessed 14 April 2022]

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