title: Analysis of anesthesia-related medical disputes in the 2009-2014 period using the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists database.
abstract: Using the Korean Society of Anesthesiologists database of anesthesia-related medical disputes (July 2009-June 2014), causative mechanisms and injury patterns were analyzed. In total, 105 cases were analyzed. Most patients were aged < 60 yr (82.9%) and were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status ≤ II (90.5%). In 42.9% of all cases, the injuries were determined to be 'avoidable' if the appropriate standard of care had been applied. Sedation was the sec most common type of anesthesia (37.1% of all cases), following by general anesthesia. Most sedation cases (27/39, 69.2%) showed a common lack of vigilance: no pre-procedural testing (82.1%), absence of anesthesia record (89.7%), and non-use of intra-procedural monitoring (15.4%). Most sedation (92.3%) was provided simultaneously by the non-anesthesiologists who performed the procedures. After the resulting injuries were grouped into four categories (temporary, permanent/minor, permanent/major, and death), their causative mechanisms were analyzed in cases with permanent injuries (n=20) and death (n=82). A 'respiratory events' was the leading causative mechanism (56/102, 54.9%). Of these, the most common specific mechanism was hypoxia secondary to airway obstruction or respiratory depression (n=31). The sec most common damaging event was a 'cardiovascular events' (26/102, 25.5%), in which myocardial infarction was the most common specific mechanism (n=12). Our database analysis demonstrated several typical injury profiles (a lack of vigilance in seemingly safe procedures or sedation, non-compliance with the airway management guidelines, and the prevalence of myocardial infarction) and can be helpful to improve patient safety.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Woon-Seok
authors: 0000-0003-4868-9065
authors: WS
authors: Roh
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Duk-Kyung
authors: 0000-0002-6555-2100
authors: DK
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Young-Hun
authors: 0000-0002-7168-4214
authors: YH
authors: Jeon
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seong-Hyop
authors: 0000-0001-7764-9818
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
authors: Seung-Cheol
authors: 0000-0001-8669-5517
authors: SC
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.
authors: Young-Kwon
authors: 0000-0002-0178-6346
authors: YK
authors: Ko
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea.
authors: Yong-Cheol
authors: 0000-0002-8669-129X
authors: YC
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Gyu-Hong
authors: 0000-0002-4425-2299
authors: GH
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice; D019300:Medical Errors; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Adverse Effects; Injuries; Legislation; Malpractice
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