Educational / Scientific Exhibit

Bhananker SM: On-Patient Fires During Monitored Anesthesia Care: Causation and Prevention. Booth S41

VIDEO: On-Patient Fires during Monitored Anesthesia Care
Windows Media File: Streaming / 32MB Download

ASA Abstracts for 2006

Davies JM, Posner KL, Cheney FW, Domino KB: Anesthesia Malpractice Claims for Newborn Brain Injury in the 1990s. Anesthesiology 105: A7, 2006. [Full Abstract Text]. Oct 14, 9AM-10:30AM. Room N230b.

Posner KL, Cheney FW, Domino KB: Anesthesia vs. Neurosurgery Malpractice Liability. Anesthesiology 105: A144, 2006. [Full Abstract Text]. Oct 14, 9AM-11AM, Room Hall E, Area E.

Liau DW, Kooner PK, Posner KL, Cheney FW, Domino KB: Injuries and Liability Related to Peripheral Catheters: A Closed Claims Analysis. Anesthesiology 105: A945, 2006. [Full Abstract Text]. Oct 16, 9AM-11AM, Room Hall E, Area F.

Kent CD, Posner KL, Cheney FW, Lee LA, Domino KB: Update on Closed Claims for Awareness during General Anesthesia. Anesthesiology 105: A1548, 2006. [Full Abstract Text]. Oct 17, 3:30PM-5PM, Room N426a.

ASA Abstracts for 2005

Lee LA, Roth S, Posner, KL, Cheney, FW, Domino, KB: "An Analysis of 71 Spine Cases with Ischemic Optic Neuropathy from the ASA Postoperative Visual Loss Registry." Anesthesiology 103: A1, 2005. [Full Abstract Text]

Although most ION cases in the ASA POVL Registry were associated with prolonged prone spine surgery (≥ 6 hrs), large blood loss (≥ 1 L), and SBP ≤ 100 mm Hg, the wide ranges in these variables suggests a multi-factorial etiology for ION, and may include unseen patient factors.

Bhananker SM, Ramamoorthy R, Posner, KL, Domino KB, Morray JP: Changing Profile of Anesthesia-Related Cardiac Arrests in Children: Update from Pediatric Peri-Operative Cardiac Arrest (POCA) Registry. Anesthesiology 103: A1310, 2005. [Full Abstract Text]

We observed a reduction in the proportion of medication-related arrests in the last 6 years of the POCA Registry and a decrease in the proportion of infants. The reasons for these changes are unclear.

Jimenez N, Posner KL, Domino KB, Cheney FW: "Trends in Pediatric Anesthesia Malpractice Claims over Three Decades." Anesthesiology 103: A1309, 2005. [Full Abstract Text]

Pediatric anesthesia malpractice claims suggest a reduction in death and permanent brain damage over time. Respiratory events also declined. These changes may reflect increased safety or changing legal strategies.

ASA Abstracts for 2004

Davies JM, Ross BK, Posner KL, Domino KB: Trends in Obstetric Anesthesia Malpractice Claims over the Last Three Decades. Anesthesiology 101: A1231, 2004. [Full Abstract Text]

The proportion of OB anesthesia claims associated with regional anesthesia increased over the decades. This may reflect changes in practice and may account for the reduction in maternal death and newborn brain injury claims and the increase in claims for maternal nerve injury and back pain.

Kressin KA, Posner KL, Lee LA, Cheney FW, Domino KB: Burn Injury in the OR: A Closed Claims Analysis.Anesthesiology, 101: A1282, 2004. [Full Abstract Text]

 

Burn injuries in the Closed Claims database continue to occur primarily from cautery, warming devices and airway fires. Burns from cautery fires, especially to the face, have increased in the 1990s.

Posner KL, Domino KB, Polissar NJ, Conrad DA, Cheney FW: Trends in Anesthesia Malpractice Lawsuit Payments. Anesthesiology, 101: A1405, 2004. [Full Abstract Text]

Payments in anesthesia malpractice lawsuits declined between the 1970s and 1990s, even when adjusted for changes in standard of care and outcome.

ASA Abstracts for 2003

Bhananker SM, Posner KL, Domino KB, Lee LA, Cheney FW: Liability Associated with Monitored Anesthesia Care: ASA Closed Claims Project. Anesthesiology, 99: A1356, 2003. [Full Abstract Text]

Litigation associated with MAC increased in the 1990s, perhaps reflecting an increase in surgery performed under MAC. Injuries during MAC were as severe and payments to the plaintiff were as high as for injuries during GA. These data suggest that MAC poses significant risk, especially for elderly and chronically ill patients.

Lee LA, Posner KL, Cheney FW, Domino KB: ASA Closed Claims Project: An Analysis of Claims Associated with Neurosurgical Anesthesia. Anesthesiology, 99: A362, 2003. [Full Abstract Text]

Neurosurgical cases comprised only 7% of claims in the ASA Closed Claims database, but had higher liability compared to Other Claims. Death and brain damage, eye and nerve damage, air emboli, inadequate fluids, and positioning injuries were more common in neurosurgical claims compared to Other Claims.

Peterson GN, Posner KL, Domino KB, Lee LA, Cheney FW: Management of the Difficult Airway in Closed Malpractice Claims. Anesthesiology, 99: A1252, 2003. [Full Abstract Text]

Difficult airway claims are associated with severe injury, death and high levels of liability payment. Severe outcomes were more common in the setting of difficult mask ventilation, “can’t intubate/can’t ventilate”, and persistent intubation attempts.

Sharar SR, Tsai YK, Posner KL, Domino KB, Cheney FW: Do Liability and Patient Injuries for Anesthetic Care of Acute Trauma Differ from Those of Non-Trauma Care?: A Closed Claims Analysis. Anesthesiology, 99: A1362, 2003. [Full Abstract Text]

The ASA Closed Claims Project database was analyzed for liability related to acute trauma care. Compared to non-trauma claims, trauma claims involved more emergent and critically ill patients, and resulted in higher mortality and greater median claim payment.