Anesthesiologist how-to
How to Run an Operating Room Crisis
Clear leadership saves lives in crises.
Quick answer
Clear leadership saves lives in crises. In short: declare; assign; use, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Declare the emergency.
Assign roles.
Use a cognitive aid or checklist.
Treat the most dangerous problem first.
Call for help early.
Debrief afterward.
Safety reminders for anesthesiologists
- Complete machine and drug checks
- Use time-outs before procedures
- Prevent medication errors with labeling
- Follow infection control
Key terms
Induction · Intubation · MAC · Spinal anesthesia · Epidural · Nerve block: see the full anesthesiologist glossary.