Admissions to the intensive care unit after complications of anaesthetic techniques over 10 years. 2. The second 5 years.
Compared with the first 5 years there was a 19% increase in general anaesthetics, a 171% increase in local and (or) sedation techniques and a 9% increase in obstetric epidurals with no increase in anaesthetic staffing. In this second 5-year period, 46 patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit as a result of a complication of an anaesthetic technique. These patients represented 1 in 2371 anaesthetic techniques carried out in the District compared with the previous 5 years where the incidence was 1 in 1543. Seven patients died (15.2%). The complication was considered to be wholly or partially avoidable in 14 instances (30.4%). Four of these subjects died.
Leigh
J M
JM
Intensive Care Unit, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford.
Tytler
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003422:Critical Care; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control