Anaesthesia without induction rooms

Abstract

Letters (two copies) must be typewritten on one side of the paper only and double spaced with wide margins. Copy should be prepared in the usual style and format of the Correspondence section. Authors must follow the advice about references and other matters contained in the Notice to Contributors to Anaesthesia printed at the back of each issue. The degree and diplomas of each author must be given in a covering letter personally signed by all the authors. Correspondence presented in any other style or format may be the subject of considerable delay and may be returned to the author for revision. If the letter comments on a published article in Anaesthesia, please send three copies; otherwise two copies of your letter will suffice.

The use of anaesthetic rooms for induction of anaesthesia: a postal survey of current practice and attitudes in Great Britain and Northern Ireland

“…In many countries the induction of anaesthesia is carried out in theatre without any apparent disadvantage to the patient. There has been considerable debate in the anaesthetic literature over the last 10 years regarding the continued use of these ‘safe havens’[2, 4, 6–12] particularly since the introduction of clinical governance and the increasing costs of monitoring equipment. However, our results suggest that at present there has been little change in practice.…”

You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone: why anaesthetic rooms should stay

“…The almost interminable wait for treatment on the NHS has reached an unprecedented high [3], and we cannot disregard the efficiency gains that parallel processing models provide. A patient can be `signed-in´, have an intravenous cannula inserted, attached to monitoring, positioned, have nerve blocks placed [4] and, depending on local set-up, have anaesthesia induced simultaneously with the emergence of the previous patient or whilst theatre cleaning and set-up is taking place. Implementing such a model can result in a reduction in non-operative time of 46%, allowing one extra case to be performed per 7-h operating list [5].…”

Inducing anaesthesia in the operating theatre

“…Although the letters from O'Connor et al . ( Anaesthesia 2003; 58 : 912–3) and in previous copies of this journal [3,4] correctly state the obvious patient safety benefits and economic advantages, no mention has been made of the staff health and safety issues surrounding induction of anaesthesia in the operating theatre. The obvious advantage is that on many occasions patients are able to move themselves from the transfer trolley to the operating table prior to induction and also position themselves centrally on the table with greater accuracy.…”