Promoting patient safety and improving the quality of patient care
Tag: Colonoscopy
Two recently published studies seem to point to completely different results on the benefit of monitoring with capnography.
In the article, “ETCO2 Concentration Correlates With Trauma Mortality,” Anesthesiology News discusses the research by Danielle K. Bodzin, MD (anesthesiologist, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center) and her colleagues: Continue reading “Does Monitoring with Capnography Improve Patient Safety and Outcomes?”
Millions of colonoscopies and other gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures in the US each year. In 2009, more than 55 million gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures were performed.
Endoscopy is usually a safe procedure and the risk of serious complications is very low. In looking at colonoscopies, which constitute about half of gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures, overall serious adverse event rate was 2.8 per 1000 procedures and the death rate was just 0.03 percent, according to guidelines published by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
However, the risk of complication rises with the use of sedation. The goal of sedation when used in colonoscopies and other gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures is safely and effectively manage any pain, discomfort, or anxiety the patient may have during the procedure. Continue reading “Reducing Adverse Events and Death from Colonoscopies and Other Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Procedures”
By Patricia Iyer MSN RN LNCC
(Pat is a legal nurse consultant who provides education to healthcare providers about patient safety. She can be reached at patriciaiyer@gmail.com)
I woke up from a routine colonoscopy with coughing and not being able to speak. What went wrong?
The gastroenterologist told me I started coughing during the procedure. I inhaled some saliva into my lungs.
Aspiration is the entry of food, liquid, saliva, or stomach contents into the lung. The seriousness of this event can range from minor to a chemical pneumonia to death. Food particles that block the airways can cause suffocation. The people who are at risk for aspiration include people receiving anesthesia, those on ventilators, people with drug overdoses, strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and alcohol intoxication. These individuals have decreased gag reflexes, and are therefore at risk for getting substances into their lungs.
By Patricia Iyer MSN RN LNCC
(Pat is a legal nurse consultant who provides education to healthcare providers about patient safety. She can be reached at patriciaiyer@gmail.com)
I went to see a gastroenterologist (Doctor A) because I am due for a colonoscopy. I had a colonoscopy done 4 years ago by a different doctor (Doctor B), and one closer to home. Doctor A wanted to know why I had not returned to Doctor B for this new one. I explained Doctor B and I had not clicked. This is what happened, and it is a good lesson for what not to say or do to a patient. Continue reading “Anesthesiologists and Colonoscopies: A Lesson in Better Physician-Patient Relationships”
Our must reads for this week focus on 5 key tips, which if followed, could save a life.
As well, if you tweet about patient safety, a big “thank you” – see if your name appears below in our retweet shout outs. Continue reading “Weekly Must Reads in Patient Safety (Apr 3, 2015)”