FAQs

Q: I am concerned at the practice of some anaesthetists, who transfer still intubated patients to the recovery room where they are left with the nursing staff to be extubated, while the anaesthetists return to theatre to anaesthetize the next patient. Who

The South African Society of Anaesthetists provides the following six guidelines regarding the responsibilities of anaesthetists towards intubated patients in the recovery room:

1. The responsibility of the maintenance of a safe airway up to the point of full recovery rests with the anaesthesiologist.
2. As a general rule standards of quality care demand that the anaesthesiologist responsible for an intubation should personally extubate the patient.
3. There are circumstances where a patient can be held in the recovery area while still intubated.
   
4. The anaesthesiologist should not leave the institution while the patient is intubated unless a competent colleague or an intensive care unit has assumed responsibility for the airway.
5. The anaesthesiologist should not commit to other duties (including another anaesthetic) when the patient requires an endotracheal tube for the maintenance of a safe airway in the recovery period - unless a suitably qualified person is immediately available to deal with any complications relating to the airway.
6. Recovery room nursing staff are entitled to refuse to accept responsibility for the care of a patient if they are inadequately trained or experienced in the management of complications relating to an endotracheal tube.

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