Non-operating Room Anesthesia: The Principles of Patient Assessment and Preparation

Appendicectomy pathway: Insights from electronic medical records of a local health district in Australia

BACKGROUND

This study aims to identify the common pathways of appendicectomy, the most common emergency surgery in Australia's public hospitals and any variations within a regional public health district in New South Wales, Australia.

METHODS

We analyzed the electronic medical records of 3,943 patients who underwent appendicectomy between January 2014 and July 2020 at 2 hospitals in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, New South Wales, Australia, using the PM2 approach for surgical pathway identification and subsequent statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Among 3,943 patients, 3,606 (91.5%) followed an 11-step main pathway: (1) emergency department admission, (2) surgery booking, (3) anesthesia start, (4) operating room entry, (5) surgery start, (6) surgery end, (7) anesthesia end, (8) operating room discharge, (9) postanesthesia care unit admission, (10) postanesthesia care unit discharge, and (11) hospital discharge. The median length of stay was 48.13 hours (interquartile range 32.74). The main pathway differed from either variation 1 (n = 246, 6.2%) or variation 2 (n = 30, 0.8%) only in the timing and location of anesthesia administration or conclusion. Variation 3 (n = 26, 0.7%) included patients who underwent appendicectomy twice, whereas variation 4 (n = 25, 0.6%) included patients booked for surgery before emergency department admission through community doctor referrals. Thirteen exceptional cases experienced combinations of the aforementioned pathways. The length of stay and phase durations varied between the main pathway and these variations.

CONCLUSION

The appendicectomy pathway was largely standardized across the studied hospitals, with the location of anesthesia administration or conclusion affecting specific stages but not the overall length of stay. Only a complex 2-surgery pathway increased length of stay.

Root causes of first-case start time delays for elective surgical procedures: a prospective multicenter observational cohort study in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Delays in surgery start times can lead to poor patient outcomes and considerable increases in healthcare expenditures. This is especially true in developing countries that often face systemic inefficiencies, such as a shortage of operating rooms and trained surgical personnel. With substantial effects on patient outcomes, healthcare efficiency, and resource allocation, identifying delays in first-case elective surgery is a crucial area of research.

METHODS

A multicenter observational study was conducted at three comprehensive and specialized hospitals in the Amhara region of Ethiopia from May 1 to October 30, 2023. The primary aim of the study was to determine the occurrence of late first-case start times, defined as a patient being in the operating room at or after the hospital's incision time of 2:30 a.m. The secondary aim was to discover potential root causes of delayed first-case start times. All patients scheduled for elective surgery as the first case on the operating list throughout the study period were included in the study. Every emergency, day case, after-hours case, and canceled case was excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 530 surgical patients were included during the study window from May 1 to October 1, 2023. Of these, 41.5% were general surgeries, 20.4% were gynecology and obstetrics surgeries, and 13.2% were orthopedic surgery procedures. Before the procedure started, nine (1.7%) of the participants had prolonged discussion with a member of the surgical team. Patients who arrived in the operating room waiting area at or after 2:30 a.m. were 2.5 times more likely to experience a first-case start time delay than those who arrived before or at 2:00 a.m. (AOR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.13-5.14). Furthermore, participants with abnormal investigation results were 2.4 times more likely to have a late first-case start time (AOR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.06, 5.50). Moreover, the odds of a late first-case start time were increased by 10.53 times with the surgeon being in the operating room at or after 2:30 a.m. (AOR = 10.53; 95% CI: 5.51, 20.11).

CONCLUSION

The research highlights a significant occurrence of delayed start times for the first elective surgical procedures. Therefore, directing attention to aspects such as ensuring patients and surgical teams arrive promptly (by or before 2:00 a.m.) and timely evaluation and communication of investigative findings before the scheduled surgery day could facilitate efforts to maximize operating room efficiency and enhance patient health outcomes.

Team Relations and Role Perceptions During Anesthesia Crisis Management in Magnetic-Resonance Imaging Settings: A Mixed Methods Exploration

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of procedures are performed in non-operating room anesthesia (NORA) settings, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suites. Patient care in NORA is accomplished by interprofessional ad hoc teams (anesthesia clinicians, imaging technologists, and others), who do not regularly work together otherwise. The authors aimed to explore team relations and role perceptions during crisis situations in MRI settings among such ad hoc teams.

METHODS

This mixed methods study used a convergent parallel design: The Relational Coordination Index (RCI) and a survey about role perceptions were administered to anesthesia and non-anesthesia personnel working in MRI settings, and semistructured interviews were conducted among a purposive sample. After descriptive statistics and thematic analysis, the authors integrated quantitative and qualitative findings to identify and describe overlapping and mismatched perceptions between the two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 67 surveys (response rate 74.4%) and 17 interviews were analyzed. RCI ratings revealed moderate relational coordination between the anesthesia and non-anesthesia groups. Anesthesia and non-anesthesia respondents agreed that the anesthesia clinician assumes leadership during crisis management while non-anesthesia personnel assist. There were nuanced differences in expectations about the role of non-anesthesia personnel in calling for help, understanding specific equipment needs, and performing patient care actions. Many anesthesia clinicians felt unsure about crisis-relevant skills of their non-anesthesia colleagues. MRI technologists emphasized attention to magnetic safety as integral to their role, which was infrequently mentioned by anesthesia personnel.

CONCLUSION

Nuanced mismatches in role expectations within the interprofessional care team exist, which may hinder effective crisis management in MRI settings.

Revolutionizing Cardiac Anesthesia: A Comprehensive Review of Contemporary Approaches Outside the Operating Room

This review article provides a comprehensive examination of the evolution of cardiac anesthesia, emphasizing contemporary approaches beyond the traditional operating room (OR) setting. Tracing the historical roots of cardiac anesthesia from its inception in the mid-20th century, the narrative explores the significant paradigm shift driven by technological advancements and changing procedural approaches. The review highlights the emergence of non-OR environments, such as hybrid operating rooms, catheterization laboratories, and electrophysiology labs, as integral spaces for cardiac interventions. Key findings underscore the importance of patient selection, preoperative assessment, and specialized anesthetic management in optimizing outcomes. Implications for the future of cardiac anesthesia include the potential for enhanced patient-centered care, reduced complications, and improved resource utilization through the integration of advanced technologies. The call to action involves encouraging ongoing research and fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals to refine protocols further, address challenges, and propel the field toward continued innovation in contemporary cardiac interventions.

Comparison of the Jcerity endoscoper airway and the endotracheal tube in endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Various airway techniques have been used in endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation (EVL). In this respect, Jcerity endoscoper airway (JEA) is a novel laryngeal mask airway that is designed for use in gastrointestinal endoscopy. In the present study, 164 patients who underwent EVL were randomly divided into JEA group or endotracheal tube (ETT) group (ratio: 1:1). Success rate of endoscopic procedure, endoscope insertion time, procedure duration, recovery time, airway technique extubation time, anesthesia costs, hospital stay duration, complications, and hemodynamic parameters were recorded. The success rate of EVL in the JEA group was noninferior to that in the ETT group (98.8% vs. 100.0%). The airway insertion time, anesthesia duration, and recovery time were significantly shorter in the JEA group than in the ETT group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the blood pressure during extubation was more stable in the JEA group (p < 0.001). Moreover, there were less heart rate variations during intubation (p < 0.005) and extubation (p < 0.05) in the JEA group. Nonetheless, the endoscopists' satisfaction scores were comparable between the two groups. Overall, our findings suggest that JEA is efficient and safe for clinical use in EVL.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000031892, Registered April 13, 2020, https://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.html .

Trends in pediatric non-operating room anesthesia: Data from the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry

BACKGROUND

Modern pediatric anesthetic encounters occur in operating rooms and non-operating room settings. Most anesthesia providers have cared for children in radiology, endoscopy, and other interventional settings at some point in their training and career. There is an absence of published data on the frequency, timing, and demographics of these pediatric anesthesia encounters.

AIMS

The primary goal of our study is to present data spanning a variety of institutions and practice settings in the United States to define the percentage of non-operating room anesthetic encounters in children. We also set out to characterize the frequency of the most common procedures in the non-operating room setting within the United States.

METHODS

Using the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry data from 2015-2019, we analyzed and reported data on current trends in non-operating room anesthesia including patient demographics, encounter setting, procedure type, and the time at which anesthetic encounters occurred.

RESULTS

2 236 788 pediatric anesthetic encounters (patient age <18 y.o.) were analyzed revealing that 22.7% of all pediatric anesthetics occur in non-operating room settings. Patients were more likely to have higher American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classifications in the non-operating room anesthesia group. Gastroenterological suites are the most common setting reported for pediatric non-operating room anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-operating room anesthesia in the United States is a prominent segment of pediatric anesthetic practice. Pediatric patients encountered in the non-operating room setting have more comorbidities, though further studies are needed to characterize the implication of this finding.

Prevention of pulmonary complications in sedated patients undergoing interventional procedures in the nonoperating room anesthesia setting

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Nonoperating room anesthesia (NORA) procedures have expanded in number, variety, and complexity. NORA involves all age groups, including frail older adults and patients often considered too sick to tolerate traditional surgical interventions. Postoperative pulmonary complications are a significant source of adverse events in the perioperative setting. We present a review focused on preventing pulmonary complications in the interventional NORA setting.

RECENT FINDINGS

NORA locations should function as independent, autonomous ambulatory units. We discuss a strategic plan involving a thorough preoperative evaluation of patients, including recognizing high-risk patients and their anesthetic management. Finally, we offer guidance on the challenges of conducting sedation and anesthesia in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or a history of COVID-19.

SUMMARY

The demands on the interventional NORA anesthesia team are increasing. Strategic planning, checklists, consistent staffing assignments, and scheduled safety drills are valuable tools to improve patient safety. In addition, through quality improvement initiatives and reporting, NORA anesthetists can achieve reductions in periprocedural pulmonary complications.

Frameworks for value-based care in the nonoperating room setting

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Nonoperating room anesthesia (NORA) presents a unique opportunity for the application of value-based care (VBC) principles to procedures performed in the office-based and nonoperating room inpatient settings. The purpose of this article is to review how value is defined in NORA and enabling principles by which anesthesiologists can maximize value in NORA.

RECENT FINDINGS

In order to drive value, NORA providers can target improvements in clinical outcomes where NORA lags behind operating room-based anesthesia (death, over-sedation, nerve injury), implement protocols focusing on intermediate outcomes/quality (postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain control, hypothermia, delirium), incorporate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to assess the trajectory of a patient's perioperative care, and reduce costs (direct and indirect) through operational and supply-based efficiencies. Establishing a culture of patient and provider safety first, appropriate patient selection with targeted, perioperative optimization of comorbidities, and efficient deployment of staff, space, and resources are critical enablers for success.

SUMMARY

Value in NORA can be defined as clinical outcomes, quality, patient-reported outcomes, and efficiency divided by the direct and indirect costs for achieving those outcomes. We present a novel framework adapting current VBC practices in operating room anesthesia to the NORA environment.

Morbidity, mortality, and systems safety in non-operating room anaesthesia: a narrative review

Non-operating room anaesthesia (NORA) describes anaesthesia delivered outside a traditional operating room (OR) setting. Non-operating room anaesthesia cases have increased significantly in the last 20 yr and are projected to account for half of all anaesthetics delivered in the next decade. In contrast to most other medication administration contexts, NORA is performed in high-volume fast-paced environments not optimised for anaesthesia care. These predisposing factors combined with increasing case volume, less provider experience, and higher-acuity patients increase the potential for preventable adverse events. Our narrative review examines morbidity and mortality in NORA settings compared with the OR and the systems factors impacting safety in NORA. A review of the literature from January 1, 1994 to March 5, 2021 was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and ProQuest. After completing abstract screening and full-text review, 30 articles were selected for inclusion. These articles suggested higher rates of morbidity and mortality in NORA cases compared with OR cases. This included a higher proportion of death claims and complications attributable to inadequate oxygenation, and a higher likelihood that adverse events are preventable. Despite relatively few attempts to quantify safety concerns, it was possible to find a range of systems safety concerns repeated across multiple studies, including insufficient lighting, noise, cramped workspace, and restricted access to patients. Old and unfamiliar equipment, lack of team familiarity, and limited preoperative evaluation are also commonly noted challenges. Applying a systems view of safety, it is possible to suggest a range of methods to improve NORA safety and performance.

Frameworks for trainee education in the nonoperating room setting

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

As the volume and types of procedures requiring anesthesiologist involvement in the nonoperating room anesthesia (NORA) setting continue to grow, it is important to create a formal curriculum and clearly define educational goals.

RECENT FINDINGS

A NORA rotation should be accompanied by a dedicated curriculum that should include topics such as education objectives, information about different interventional procedures, anesthesia techniques and equipment, and safety principles. NORA environment may be unfamiliar to anesthesia residents. The trainees must also learn the principles of efficiency, rapid recovery from anesthesia, and timely room turnover. Resident education in NORA should be an essential component of their training. The goals and objectives of the NORA educational experience should include not only developing the clinical knowledge necessary to implement the specific type of anesthetic desired for each procedure, but also the practical knowledge of care coordination needed to safely and efficiently work in the NORA setting.

SUMMARY

As educators, we must foster and grow a resident's resilience by continually challenging them with new clinical scenarios and giving them appropriate autonomy to take risks and move outside of their comfort zone. Residents should understand that exposure to such unique and demanding environment can be transformative.

Perioperative Outcomes of Thrombectomy Patients Using Venovenous Bypass and Suction Filtration With General Anesthesia

OBJECTIVE

AngioVac (Angiodynamics, Latham, NY) is a novel drainage system that offers a less-invasive approach compared with open surgical thromboembolectomy to remove intracardiac and intravascular thrombotic and embolic material. For this study, the authors' single-center experience with patients undergoing thromboembolectomy using the AngioVac system was reviewed retrospectively to evaluate anesthetic management and postoperative complications.

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational study.

SETTING

Single institution, quaternary care hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

The study comprised 20 consecutive patients whose treatment included the AngioVac between January 2016 and November 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Twenty patients underwent AngioVac suction filtration. The mean age was 56 years, and women comprised 35% of the patient cohort. Indications for AngioVac suction filtration included deep venous thrombosis involving the inferior vena cava (n = 12 [60%]), right atrial mass/thrombus (n = 11 [55%]), right ventricular mass/thrombus (n = 3 [15%]), and pulmonary embolism(n = 2 [10%]). All patients required vasopressor support, and nine patients (45%) required blood transfusion during the procedure. There was no intraoperative death or cardiac arrest associated with the procedure. The 30-day mortality was zero, and in-hospital mortality was 5% (1/20). Significant postoperative complications occurred in 11/20 patients (55%). Postoperative left ventricular dysfunction (36% v 0%; p < 0.05), preoperative shock requiring vasopressors (36% v 0%; p < 0.05), postoperative blood transfusion (100% v 56%; p < 0.05), and having undergone recent surgery (64% v 11%; p < 0.05) were associated with increased odds of experiencing postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of intraoperative complication during AngioVac suction filtration is low, but vasopressors and blood transfusions often are required. Patients at increased risk of developing postoperative complications potentially can be identified as having undergone recent surgery, experiencing preoperative shock requiring vasopressors or postoperative left ventricular dysfunction, and requiring postoperative blood transfusion.

Pediatric Anesthesia Outside the Operating Room: Safety and Systems

Anesthesia care performed outside the operating room is a growing area of pediatric anesthesia practice. The anesthesiology team expects to care for children in diverse locations, which include diagnostic and interventional radiology, gastroenterology and pulmonary endoscopy suites, radiation oncology sites, and the cardiac catheterization laboratory. To provide safe, high-quality care the anesthesiologist working in these environments must understand the unique environmental, logistical, and perioperative considerations and risks involved with each remote location. This 2-part review provides an overview of safety and system considerations in pediatric nonoperating room anesthesia before describing in more detail considerations for particular remote anesthetizing locations.

The Association of Anesthesia Clinical Directors (AACD) Glossary of Times Used for Scheduling and Monitoring of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures

The Glossary of Times Used for Scheduling and Monitoring of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures also known as the Procedural Times Glossary (PTG) was originally developed with the support of the Association of Anesthesia Clinical Directors (AACD). The goal was to establish standardized terms to measure and assess the performance of operating room and procedural areas. By incorporating standardized concepts of efficiency and utilization, the PTG codified operating room metrics and facilitated benchmarking and quality improvement initiatives. In the last three decades, these concepts have also served as the basis for research in operating room management, including incorporating frameworks from diverse fields. The metrics in the PTG are divided into four categories: (1) Procedural Times; (2) Procedural and Scheduling Definitions and Time Periods; (3) Utilization and Efficiency Indices; and (4) Patient Categories. We describe each of the categories and corresponding metrics. The PTG provides the fundamental building blocks for managing operating and non-operating room suites. We hope that reintroducing these important time markers will help facilitate the reporting of standardized metrics.

Building and Maintaining Organizational Infrastructure to Attain Clinical Excellence

Active maintenance of highly functional teams is critical to ensuring safe, efficient patient care in the non-operating room anesthesia (NORA) suite. In addition to developing collaborative relationships and patient care protocols, individual and team training is needed. For anesthesiologists, this training must begin during residency. The training should be supplemented with continuing education in this field for providers who find themselves working in the NORA space. As NORA continues to grow, robust NORA-specific quality assurance and improvement programs will empower anesthesiologists with the tools they need to best care for these patients.

Implementation and Use of Anesthesia Information Management Systems for Non-operating Room Locations

Non-operating room anesthesia (NORA) encounters comprise a significant fraction of contemporary anesthesia practice. With the implemention of an aneshtesia information management system (AIMS), anesthesia practitioners can better streamline preoperative assessment, intraoperative automated documentation, real-time decision support, and remote surveillance. Despite the large personal and financial commitments involved in adoption and implementation of AIMS and other electronic health records in these settings, the benefits to safety, efficacy, and efficiency are far too great to be ignored. Continued future innovation of AIMS technology only promises to further improve on our NORA experience and improve care quality and safety.

Safety of Non-Operating Room Anesthesia: A Closed Claims Update

Malpractice claims for non-operating room anesthesia care (NORA) had a higher proportion of claims for death than claims in operating rooms (ORs). NORA claims most frequently involved monitored anesthesia care. Inadequate oxygenation/ventilation was responsible for one-third of NORA claims, often judged probably preventable by better monitoring. Fewer malpractice claims for NORA occurred than for OR anesthesia as assessed by the relative numbers of in NORA versus OR procedures. The proportion of claims in cardiology and radiology NORA locations were increased compared with estimates of cases in these locations. Although NORA is safe, adherence to safe clinical practice is important.

Sevoflurane may be more beneficial than propofol in patients receiving endoscopic variceal ligation and endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy: A randomized, double-blind study

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of various general anesthesia regimens during endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EVS). A total of 123 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status III and IV, aged 40-70 years, undergoing general anesthesia for EVL and EVS were randomly divided into two groups: Sevoflurane anesthesia (group S; n=60) and propofol anesthesia (group P; n=60). Vital signs, particularly heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP), were monitored. The designated time points were as follows: 5 min before induction (T0), and 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 min after intubation (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7, respectively). Time intervals were recorded, including recovery time and extubation time. Following surgery, the observer recorded the Ramsay sedation scale (RSS) score and the visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Adverse reactions were noted. Results demonstrated that there were significant differences in MAP between the two groups at T2, T3, T5, T6 and T7 (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in HR between the two groups at T2, T3 and T4 (P<0.05). Recovery time and extubation time in group P were significantly longer than those in group S (P<0.05; 18.38±2.25 min vs. 14.57±1.04 min and 21.70±2.70 min vs. 15.83±0.88 min, respectively). The rate of ephedrine injected was 58.3% (35/60 patients) in group P vs. 28.3% (17/60 patients) in group S (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the RSS score between the two groups 5 min after extubation (P<0.05). VRS scores demonstrated that anesthetists and patients were significantly more satisfied with the procedure in group S than in group P (P<0.01). In conclusion, the superiority and special clinical value of inhalational anesthesia has been demonstrated during EVL and EVS attributed to stable hemodynamics and high quality of anesthesia recovery in the present study.

The challenges of implementing electronic health records for anesthesia use outside the operating room

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The nonoperating room environment presents a number of distinct challenges for anesthesiologists in the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs). These include documentation compliance, billing, and room design.

RECENT FINDINGS

EHRs offer multiple opportunities for improved continuity of care, expedited preoperative evaluation, and seamless transitions between anesthesia and nonanesthesia providers. Additionally, data gathered through adoption of EHRs provide the promise of future analysis and research, allowing for data-driven improvements in quality of care and value optimization. Institutions adopting a new EHR in areas where anesthesia is provided outside of the operating room should plan wisely to address these matters.

SUMMARY

The needs of anesthesiology practice should be carefully incorporated into future EHR builds as demands for anesthesia care outside of the operating room expand.