Handling injectable medications in anaesthesia: Guidelines from the Association of Anaesthetists

Anaesthesia. 2023 Oct;78(10):1285-1294. doi: 10.1111/anae.16095. Epub 2023 Jul 26.

Abstract

Peri-operative medication safety is complex. Avoidance of medication errors is both system- and practitioner-based, and many departments within the hospital contribute to safe and effective systems. For the individual anaesthetist, drawing up, labelling and then the correct administration of medications are key components in a patient's peri-operative journey. These guidelines aim to provide pragmatic safety steps for the practitioner and other individuals within the operative environment, as well as short- to long-term goals for development of a collaborative approach to reducing errors. The aim is that they will be used as a basis for instilling good practice.

Keywords: anaesthesia; drug error; human factors; medication error; medication safety; prefilled syringe.

MeSH terms

  • Anesthesia*
  • Anesthesiology*
  • Anesthetists
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Medication Errors