(Originally presented by Dr Philip Collins)
Special Committee Investigating Deaths Under Anaesthesia (SCIDUA)
In NSW there is mandatory reporting of all deaths which occur while under, as a result of, or within 24 hours after the administration of anaesthesia or sedation regardless of whether it is a Coroner’s case or not.
- Anaesthesia is very safe
- Risk of dying under anaesthesia is 1 in 27,500 procedures and a direct mortality caused by anaesthesia of 1 in 220,000 procedures
2017 Special Report Summary:
- 500 deaths reviewed by SCIDUA
- 48 deaths where anaesthetic factors thought to have played a role
- 35 (73%) had no correctable factors which could have improved anaesthetic management
- 13 (27%) had correctable factors:
- inappropriate drug doses
- poor planning
- inadequate airway management
- inadequate ventilation
- inadequate monitoring
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