Page 43
M E D
S A F E T Y
areas when not under the direct supervision of an anesthesia provider. Because the OR is a limited-access location, says the ASA, providers can leave non-controlled medications unattended on anesthesia carts or anesthesia machines for brief periods (as long as it would take to bring a patient into the OR from the pre-op area, for example) provided there are authorized personnel in the OR during that time.
Emergency drugs such as dantrolene must be kept in a secure and dedicated cart or kit, according to the ASA. These storage solutions must be easily accessible by providers or authorized staff. Combination or key locks are not recommended, since the seconds wasted trying to find the key or the individuals who know the access code could jeopardize lifesaving efforts.
Dr. Novak (rjnov@yahoo.com) is an adjunct clinical associate professor in the department of anesthesia at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. Check out his blog at theanesthesiaconsulta nt.com.
