B Acad Nat Med Paris
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B Acad Nat Med Paris · Nov 1994
[Anesthetic safety: recommendations of the French Society of Anesthesia-Resuscitation].
As in other developed countries, the French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care has established since 1989 nine recommendations concerning the safety of anaesthetic practice, for all types of anaesthesia, and whatever the place where anaesthesia is to be given. They include recommendations for the preanaesthetic period (especially the preanaesthetic visit), for monitoring an anaesthetized patient, and for recovery. ⋯ For each recommendation, minimum standards for facilities, organisation, personal and equipment have been defined. These standards safety requirements could be used as indicators in assessing anaesthetic safety in a hospital accreditation process.
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Accidents caused by anesthesia constitute 4% of peri-operative mortality and are mostly preventable. The methods for reducing these accidents in pre-, intra- and post-operative situations are explained. Pre-operative tests are ineffective when used without clinical guidance which requires a pre-anesthetic consultation. ⋯ This situation requires a rapid improvement. The rational utilization of the described methods for improving anesthetic safely means avoiding the dispersion of anesthetic units. Professional demographics contradicts the idea that an increase in the number of anesthesiologists could solve problems caused by deficient organizations or systems.