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Summary: This guideline updates and replaces the 5th edition of the Standards of Monitoring published in 2015. The aim of this document is to provide guidance on the minimum standards for monitoring of any patient undergoing anaesthesia or sedation under the care of an anaesthetist. The recommendations are primarily aimed at anaesthetists practising in the UK and Ireland, but it is recognised that these guidelines may also be of use in other areas of the world. Minimum standards for monitoring patients during anaesthesia and in the recovery phase are included. There is also guidance on monitoring patients undergoing sedation and during transfer. There are new sections specifically discussing capnography, sedation and regional anaesthesia. In addition, the indications for processed electroencephalogram and neuromuscular monitoring have been updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intra-operative aerosol-generating procedures are arguably unavoidable in the routine provision of thoracic anaesthesia. Airway management for such patients during the COVID-19 pandemic including tracheal intubation, lung isolation, one-lung ventilation and flexible bronchoscopy may pose a significant risk to healthcare professionals and patients. That said, there remains a need for timely thoracic surgery for patients with lung cancer or thoracic trauma. The thoracic anaesthetic community has been confronted with the need to modify existing techniques to maximise safety for patients and healthcare professionals. With appropriate modification, aerosol generation may be mitigated against in most circumstances. We developed a set of practice-based recommendations for airway management in thoracic surgical patients, which have been endorsed by the Association for Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Critical Care and the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent development of electronic logbooks with secure off-device data storage provides a rich resource for research. We present the largest analysis of anaesthetic logbooks to date, with data from 494,235 cases logged by 964 anaesthetists over a 4-year period. Our analysis describes and compares the annual case-load and supervision levels of different grades of anaesthetists across the UK and Republic of Ireland. We calculated the number of cases undertaken per year by grade (median (IQR [range]) core trainees = 388 (252-512 [52-1204]); specialist trainees = 344 (228-480 [52-1144]); and consultants = 328 (204-500 [52-1316]). Overall, the proportion of cases undertaken with direct consultant supervision was 56.7% and 41.6% for core trainees and specialist trainees, respectively. The proportion of supervised cases reduced out-of-hours, for both core trainees (day 93.5%, evening 86.3%, night 78.6%) and specialist trainees (day 81.0%, evening 67.7%, night 56.4%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tragic death of an anaesthetic trainee driving home after a series of night shifts prompted a national survey of fatigue in trainee anaesthetists. This indicated that fatigue was widespread, with significant impact on trainees' health and well-being. Consultants deliver an increasing proportion of patient care resulting in long periods of continuous daytime duty and overnight on-call work, so we wished to investigate their experience of out-of-hours working and the causes and impact of work-related fatigue. We conducted a national survey of consultant anaesthetists and paediatric intensivists in the UK and Ireland between 25 June and 6 August 2018. The response rate was 46% (94% of hospitals were represented): 84% of respondents (95%CI 83.1-84.9%) contribute to a night on-call rota with 32% (30.9-33.1%) working 1:8 or more frequently. Sleep disturbance on-call is common: 47% (45.6-48.4%) typically receive two to three phone calls overnight, and 48% (46.6-49.4%) take 30 min or more to fall back to sleep. Only 15% (14.0-16.0%) reported always achieving 11 h of rest between their on-call and their next clinical duty, as stipulated by the European Working Time Directive. Moreover, 24% (22.8-25.2%) stated that there is no departmental arrangement for covering scheduled clinical duties following a night on-call if they have been in the hospital overnight. Overall, 91% (90.3-91.7%) reported work-related fatigue with over half reporting a moderate or significantly negative impact on health, well-being and home life. We discuss potential explanations for these results and ways to mitigate the effects of fatigue among consultants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Following a 2–3‐month period of publicity, anaesthetists were invited to participate in an online survey that was administered by a third party company on behalf of the Association of Anaesthetists and ran between 3 September and 31 October 2018. Anaesthetists working in the UK or Ireland were asked about the presence or absence of welfare/support structures or resources in their workplace in the case of mental illness, addiction and/or suicide. Anaesthetists working anywhere in the world were also asked for their experiences of a colleague's suicide, defined as a colleague's taking his or her own life – whether intentional or not – while practising as an anaesthetist in the UK or Ireland, in the same department and at the same time as the respondent. Respondents were also asked about experiences of other suicides not meeting this definition. A total of 3638 responses were received. Most respondents were unaware of the existence of policies/guidance on mental illness, addiction or suicide, or of welfare leads, within their Trust or department. A total of 1916 cases of suicide meeting the survey's definition were reported by 1397 respondents, although the actual number of discrete cases is unknown because of likely multiple reporting of the same cases. A third of respondents who reported a suicide had experience of more than one case. Most reports were of suicide in the last 10 years, and most reported cases involved anaesthetic drugs. Deficiencies were noted in the support available and in the way the deaths were handled, although examples of good support were also described. A further 1715 respondents reported suicides that did not meet the primary definition. Overall, 92% of respondents reporting suicide experienced it through work, and 41% outside of work (total > 100% as some reported both). Although unable to provide estimates of suicide rates, or numerical associations between the features of the deaths, this survey highlights the considerable emotional and mental burden of suicide on anaesthetists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safe vascular access is integral to anaesthetic and critical care practice, but procedures are a frequent source of patient adverse events. Ensuring safe and effective approaches to vascular catheter insertion should be a priority for all practitioners. New technology such as ultrasound and other imaging has increased the number of tools available. This guidance was created using review of current practice and literature, as well as expert opinion. The result is a consensus document which provides practical advice on the safe insertion and removal of vascular access devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of anaesthetists who are involved in magnetic resonance (MR) units is increasing. Magnetic resonance systems are becoming more powerful and interventional procedures are now possible. This paper updates information relating to safety terminology, occupational exposure, reactions to gadolinium-based contrast agents and the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Magnetic resonance examinations of patients with pacemakers are still generally contra-indicated but have been carried out in specialist centres under strictly controlled conditions. As availability of MR increases, so the education of anaesthetists, who are occasionally required to provide a service, must be considered. Anaesthesia in MR units was first described in the 1980s. Guidelines on the provision of anaesthetic services in MR units were published by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) in 2002 [1]. Since then, the number of hospitals with MR units, and hence the number of patients requiring anaesthesia for MR, has increased. While the issues relating to setting up anaesthetic services in MR have not changed, there have been a number of developments that warrant this update: 1 Safety terminology and guidelines have changed. 2 MR systems utilise higher magnetic-field strengths and more open designs are available. 3 Interventional and intra-operative MR are now routine in some centres. 4 Mobile MR scanners are increasingly used to reduce waiting lists. 5 Although still generally contra-indicated, some patients with pacemakers have been scanned under strictly controlled conditions in specialist centres. 6 'MR safe' medical implants are now being produced. 7 New equipment is now available for use in MR. 8 Out-of-hours availability of MR investigations has increased. 9 Reports of allergic reactions to MR contrast media have increased. 10 Gadolinium based contrast agents (Gd-CAs) are associated with a varying degree of risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with impaired renal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At least 20% of reported major adverse airway events occur on the intensive care unit. This study surveyed 315 (96%) of all general, satellite, hepatobiliary, cardiac and neuro-intensive care units in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, finding that only 100 (32%) units always use capnography for tracheal intubation while only 80 (25%) always use capnography for continuous monitoring of patients requiring controlled ventilation. Three hundred and ten (98%) units utilise a checklist of airway equipment, 311 (99%) check its functionality on a daily basis and 296 (94%) units have access to a bronchoscope. Whilst 297 (94%) ICUs have an airway trolley, sufficient equipment for unanticipated difficult intubation was only seen on 33 (10%) of units. Guidelines addressing minimum standards for monitoring and airway safety on ICU are not being met and remain below the standard expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infusion of lipid emulsion has been demonstrated to facilitate return of spontaneous circulation in animal models and human cases of local anaesthetic induced cardiac arrest. Guidelines for lipid application exist; however, experimental evidence of efficacy at recommended dosing is lacking. In 20 sedated, mechanically ventilated, and invasively monitored New Zealand White rabbits, asystole was induced via bolus bupivacaine injection. Animals were randomised to receive either 20% Intralipid administered according to Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland guidelines, or identical volumes of 0.9% saline solution, in addition to standard Advanced Cardiac Life Support resuscitative measures. Seven lipid treated rabbits developed return of spontaneous circulation vs four saline treated animals (p = 0.370). A trend toward sooner return of spontaneous circulation in the lipid treated group was observed (2.4 (0.53) vs 3.8 (1.7) min; p = 0.082). Five animals in the lipid treated group survived to protocol termination vs nil animals from the saline treated group (p = 0.033). The current Association of Anaesthestists of Great Britain and Ireland lipid infusion protocol provides a useful beginning for lipid emulsion administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complications at extubation remain an important risk factor in anaesthesia. A postal survey was conducted on extubation practice amongst consultant anaesthetists in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The use of short acting drugs encourages anaesthetists to extubate the trachea at lighter levels of anaesthesia. The results show that oxygen (100%) is not routinely administered either before extubation or en route to the recovery area. A trend towards a head up or sitting position at extubation is emerging. However, further research into the use of these positions is required. Airway related complications at extubation are relatively frequent but are usually dealt with by simple basic measures. The role of drugs such as propofol in decreasing the incidence of these complications needs further evaluation. Some of these results give concern for patient safety and for training. The importance of teaching and adherence to continued oxygenation until complete recovery is strongly emphasised. Nerve stimulators should be used continually as standard monitoring throughout the anaesthetic period when muscle-relaxing drugs are part of the anaesthetic technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the results of a survey conducted on the use of throat packs in neuroanaesthesia by the Neuroanaesthesia Society of Great Britain and Ireland. According to the survey, 49 percent of the anesthetists reported inserting a throat pack during neurosurgery, 30 percent for tracheal tube stabilization, 27 percent for the prevention of spillage of secretions and 18 percent for the minimization of airway soiling during trans-sphenoidal surgery.

The article offers information about the Independent Practice Committee (IPC) of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI). It cites the goals and members of the committee, the number of meetings conducted every year and its representation to the Board of the Federation of Independent Practitioner Organisations. It also explores the achievements made by IPC including the creation of two very useful glossies in the practice of anesthesiology.

The article provides information on several events for the Association of Anaesthetist of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI). It presents the seminars for July 2009 such as Practical Burns Management for the Non-Specialist to be held on July 9, and the Anaesthesia for High Risk Surgery on July 22. It also announces AAGBI's on-line booking to organize a seminar and develop education programme.

The article presents information about the Group of Anaesthetists in Training (GAT) Committee. The committee was formed in the year 1967. It aims to represent the interests of trainee anaesthetists across Great Britain and Ireland. It meets four times a year and holds an Annual Scientific Meeting which is open to all its members.

The article offers information related to seminars organized by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain & Ireland (AAGBI). It presents the schedules of several AAGBI seminars for December 2008 to January 2009 including seminars on resuscitation, ultrasound in anesthesia and critical care setting. Details on how to organize an AAGBI seminar are also provided.

The article provides information on the Linkman Scheme of Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain & Ireland (AAGBI). It notes that AAGBI is one of the largest specialist medical organizations in Great Britain and Ireland and has over 10,000 members in its 77th year. It mentions that the Linkman Scheme has provided a two way link between AAGBI's members and council since 1974. It informs that AAGBI has about 258 linkmen who represent 500 hospitals in the two countries.

The article highlights the Scottish Standing Committee of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI). The author throws the question on whether there is a need for the Scottish Standing Committee. According to the author, there is a need for an instrument for anesthesia if anesthetists aspire to remain as a specialty and a service across legislatures.

The article announces the establishment of the Standards Group, an offspring of the Safety Committee of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain & Ireland (AAGBI) in 1994. Standards Group is designed to work various techniques for the improvement of patient safety through standardization agreement of anaesthetic equipment in Great Britain and at the European International level. The standardization applies in anaesthetic equipment such ventilators, tracheal tube and catheters.

A call for abstracts for the annual congress of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain & Ireland is presented.