Anesthesiologists Suffer Head Injuries in OR, an Increasing Risk to Patient Safety

Head Injuries: Anesthesiologist Cornelius Sullivan, M.D., learned the hard way that the doctor can quickly become the patient when injured on the job. As Dr. Sullivan stood during a procedure at a surgery center, he hit his head on a monitor that had been moved behind him, lost consciousness and woke up in the ambulance on the way to the emergency room. He spent two nights and could not return to work for several weeks. These types of head injuries, known as “boom strikes,” happen when operating room (OR) equipment on fixed or moveable arms (booms) – such as monitors, screens and lighting – get in the way of an anesthesiologist performing their job. While they can happen to any OR staff, anesthesiologists are especially at risk due to their confined workspace and the need for quick movements during emergencies.

As advanced equipment is added to ORs and more procedures are performed in small, non-traditional surgical spaces, the risk of head injuries has increased. In a survey conducted by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), more than half of the anesthesiologists who responded said they had experienced one or more work-related injuries, including to the head. Dr. Sullivan has suffered three head injuries.

To address this growing issue, ASA released a Statement on Anesthesiologist Head Injuries in Anesthetizing Locations, which recognizes boom strikes as a potential medical emergency and a serious patient safety risk – especially in outpatient procedure sites or after hours when another anesthesiologist may not be readily available to care for the patient. The statement also includes recommendations to help prevent these injuries.

Mary Ann Vann, M.D., FASA, chair of ASA’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Physical Demands of Anesthesiologists, who also suffered a head injury while working in the OR, helped develop the statement. She is available to discuss the statement, including:

• how and why these head injuries occur and why they’re becoming more common in anesthesiologists,

• the safety issues they pose for patients, anesthesiologists and other OR staff, and

• measures that should be taken by hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to protect against head injuries, including:

  • holding safety meetings with OR staff to devise solutions,

  • forming safety teams to evaluate reports of boom strikes,

  • involving clinical anesthesia staff in the planning or design of operating or procedure rooms to ensure a safer space, and

  • tracking head injuries, including their cause and outcome, to provide insight into effective interventions. Newswise/SP