Abstract
SummaryThe Royal College of Anaesthetists' 7th National Audit Project baseline survey assessed knowledge, attitudes, practices and experiences of peri‐operative cardiac arrests among UK anaesthetists and Anaesthesia Associates. We received 10,746 responses, representing a 71% response rate. In‐date training in adult and paediatric advanced life support was reported by 9646 (90%) and 7125 (66%) anaesthetists, respectively. There were 8994 (84%) respondents who were confident in leading a peri‐operative cardiac arrest, with males more confident than females, but only 5985 (56%) were confident in leading a debrief and 7340 (68%) communicating with next of kin. In the previous two years, 4806 (46%) respondents had managed at least one peri‐operative cardiac arrest, of which 321 (7%) and 189 (4%) of these events involved a child or an obstetric patient, respectively. Respondents estimated the most common causes of peri‐operative cardiac arrest to be hypovolaemia, hypoxaemia and cardiac ischaemia, with haemorrhage coming fifth. However, the most common reported causes for the most recently attended peri‐operative cardiac arrest were haemorrhage; (927, 20%); anaphylaxis (474, 10%); and cardiac ischaemia (397, 9%). Operating lists or shifts were paused or stopped after 1330 (39%) cardiac arrests and 1693 (38%) respondents attended a debrief, with ‘hot’ debriefs most common. Informal wellbeing support was relatively common (2458, 56%) and formal support was uncommon (472, 11%). An impact on future care delivery was reported by 196 (4%) anaesthetists, most commonly a negative psychological impact. Management of a peri‐operative cardiac arrest during their career was reported by 8654 (85%) respondents. The overall impact on professional life was more often judged positive (2630, 30%) than negative (1961, 23%), but impact on personal life was more often negative.
Funder
Royal College of Anaesthetists
Subject
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Reference22 articles.
1. Methods of the 7
th
National Audit Project (
NAP7
) of the Royal College of Anaesthetists: peri‐operative cardiac arrest
2. Organisation of UK hospitals and anaesthetic departments in the treatment of peri‐operative cardiac arrest: an analysis from the 7th National Audit Project (NAP7) Local Co‐ordinator Baseline Survey;Kursumovic E;Anaesthesia,2023
3. Royal College of Anaesthetists.Curriculum for a CCT in Anaesthetics. August 2021.2021.https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2023‐02/2021%20Curriculum%20for%20a%20CCT%20in%20Anaesthetics%20v1.1.pdf(accessed 31/07/2023).
4. Resuscitation Council UK.Quality Standards. 2020.https://www.resus.org.uk/library/quality‐standards‐cpr(accessed 01/04/2023).
5. Royal College of Anaesthetists.Chapter 1: Guidelines for the Provision of Anaesthetic Services: the Good Department 2023. January 2023.https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/gpas/chapter‐1(accessed 01/04/2023).