Anesthesia Protocol for Intraoperative Catastrophic Events

Catastrophic events, such as an intraoperative death, code, or unexpected course of surgery can add significant stress to the job of an anesthesiologist. In the past, there has been perceived production pressure to continue on to the next scheduled case without time off, or even time to debrief or process such an event. We believe that adverse events in the operating room affect the wellness of the anesthesiologist, may immediately affect job performance and patient safety, and may ultimately contribute to stress and burnout.