Abstract
We report the results of the Royal College of Anaesthetists' 7th National Audit Project organisational baseline survey sent to every NHS anaesthetic department in the UK to assess preparedness for treating peri-operative cardiac arrest. We received 199 responses from 277 UK anaesthetic departments, representing a 72% response rate. Adult and paediatric anaesthetic care was provided by 188 (95%) and 165 (84%) hospitals, respectively. There was no paediatric intensive care unit on-site in 144 (87%) hospitals caring for children, meaning transfer of critically ill children is required. Remote site anaesthesia is provided in 182 (92%) departments. There was a departmental resuscitation lead in 113 (58%) departments, wellbeing lead in 106 (54%) and departmental staff wellbeing policy in 81 (42%). A defibrillator was present in every operating theatre suite and in all paediatric anaesthesia locations in 193 (99%) and 149 (97%) departments, respectively. Advanced airway equipment was not available in: every theatre suite in 13 (7%) departments; all remote locations in 103 (57%) departments; and all paediatric anaesthesia locations in 23 (15%) departments. Anaesthetic rooms were the default location for induction of anaesthesia in adults and children in 148 (79%) and 121 (79%) departments, respectively. Annual updates in chest compressions and in defibrillation were available in 149 (76%) and 130 (67%) departments, respectively. Following a peri-operative cardiac arrest, debriefing and peer support programmes were available in 154 (79%) and 57 (29%) departments, respectively. While it is likely many UK hospitals are very well prepared to treat anaesthetic emergencies including cardiac arrest, the survey suggests this is not universal.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1442-1452 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Anaesthesia |
| Volume | 78 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| Early online date | 3 Nov 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 7 Nov 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The project infrastructure is supported financially and with staffing from the Royal College of Anaesthetists. The NAP7 fellows' salaries are supported by: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (AK); Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation (EK); NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship (RA). Panel members receive travel expenses and no remuneration. JS and TC's employers receive backfill for their time on the project (4 h per week). IM and SA are Editors of Anaesthesia. We thank Dr E. Wain, Dr K. Samuel, Mr S. Kendall and Dr C. Bouch and the HSRC/RCoA research team including K. Williams (Research Project Co-ordinator), J. Lourtie (Head of Research) and S. Drake (Director of Clinical Quality and Research) for their contribution to this work. We also wish to thank all independent sector local co-ordinators who contributed to this study. No other competing interests declared.
Funding Information:
The project infrastructure is supported financially and with staffing from the Royal College of Anaesthetists. The NAP7 fellows' salaries are supported by: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (AK); Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation (EK); NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship (RA). Panel members receive travel expenses and no remuneration. JS and TC's employers receive backfill for their time on the project (4 h per week). IM and SA are Editors of . We thank Dr E. Wain, Dr K. Samuel, Mr S. Kendall and Dr C. Bouch and the HSRC/RCoA research team including K. Williams (Research Project Co‐ordinator), J. Lourtie (Head of Research) and S. Drake (Director of Clinical Quality and Research) for their contribution to this work. We also wish to thank all independent sector local co‐ordinators who contributed to this study. No other competing interests declared. Anaesthesia
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Anaesthesia published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association of Anaesthetists.