Survey of Anesthesiologist Injection Practices
A survey by the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists (NYSSA) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygeine was published and picked up by the press. The findings do indeed raise some eyebrows as do the reporting of the findings. This isn’t the first time this blog has drawn attention to this matter. I guess we are on somewhat of a mission to spread the word: Syringes, needles and (most) vials are not be shared….end of story. The vast majority of anesthesia providers, even those in training, understand and respect this notion. It is truly unfortunate that this is still an issue.
The survey results are summarized (albeit a bit strangely) in this months Anesthesiology News:
Nearly half (49%) said they sometimes used the same vials of medication for more than one patient—a strict no-no for many kinds of drugs, including propofol.
But perfectly acceptable for many other drugs and this factoid doesn’t distinguish making it worthless imho.
(Indeed, 31% of clinicians who reported using propofol said they had used the same vial on multiple patients.)
When? Last week? In their lifetimes? It is perfectly acceptable in many institutions for a pharmacist to aseptically split a large vial into smaller ones. We did this during the great propofol shortage of 2010.
Roughly one-fourth said they did not always use a new needle and syringe when drawing medication from a vial
While technically bad from if it going to the same patient it is less of an issue. Again, not delineated and the reader should hold there disgust until the facts are clear.
And about the same proportion reported using an open vial of medication even though they had not directly observed someone else opening the container.
Again not uncommon if it is timed, dated, signed and kept locked up this does not violate any rules I know of or the “treat everyone like your mother” doctrine I subscribe to.
Perhaps most concerning, the survey also found that four anesthesia residents in the state (8%) said they had reused syringes on different patients, although the researchers who conducted the survey expressed doubt that everyone who said they did so understood the question. Attending physicians were much less likely to admit to reusing syringes—2%, the survey found, which is in line with previous reports.
Ok what? They didn’t understand the question? Then what information should I be taking from this survey? Nothing? Ok. Less likely to admit to? Isn’t that journalist code for calling someone a liar?
This is serious business and we at The Anesthesia Blog hate to make light of it but the survey results, if they are true, are disturbing to say the least. Seriously people if you can’t get your crap together I’m going to force y’all to watch this video on an endless loop:
Thoughts? Are these results what you have observed in clinical practice? Comment below.
Image: dream designs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
