Anaesthesia

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What is it?


Anaesthesia involves the use of medications to produce controlled unconsciousness or to block sensation, thereby preventing pain during medical procedures or surgery. In the intensive care setting, it may be necessary to relieve anxiety, pain, and agitation associated with severe illness, invasive devices, or the stresses of critical care. Anaesthesia is also commonly used to enable endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.

A medicolegal perspective on anaesthesia

by Dr Martin Stotz, Consultant in Intensive Care and Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia is one of the largest and most wide-ranging medical specialties, and it is used in some form in around two-thirds of all hospital patients. It is generally a very safe procedure, and the risk of adverse events is low. Furthermore, many of the complications that do occur are minor and temporary in nature. However, a small proportion result in permanent harm or […]

Medical negligence claims and the role of the Intensivist

Every year in the UK, over 270,000 adults are admitted to an intensive care unit. For the majority of patients, treatment is successful but the Department of Health estimates that around 10% of hospital inpatient admissions gives rise to an adverse event. Depending on the seriousness of the incident and the outcome for the patient, […]