BMJ 1994;308:804 (26 March)

Editorials

Recovery from anaesthesia

Specially designated recovery areas are essential

The Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and the National Confidential Enquiries into Perioperative Deaths regularly emphasise the clinical problems associated with recovery from anaesthesia.1 2 Despite their proliferation over the past few decades recovery rooms--designated places for sole occupancy by patients who have just had operations--are not always fully staffed with competent people when they are needed, and equipment may be missing. Why should this be? Why is it that one in seven patients dying perioperatively could not be admitted to a special area for their care because no recovery room apparently existed?2 Other patients who subsequently died were denied access because the unit was closed or not staffed at night.

Managers must appreciate that the physical existence of a designated recovery room does not mean that it can be used at all times. Surgeons must realise that their wards are no longer suitable places . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Recovery from anaesthesia
A M Cohen
BMJ 1994 308: 1637-1638. [Extract] [Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Cohen, A M (1994). Recovery from anaesthesia. BMJ 308: 1637-1638 [Full text]  
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