Positioning of the patient on the operating table is supposed to be a simple task for the operating room team (surgeon, anesthesiologist, circulating nurse and their aids): once anesthesia induction is performed,in the vast majority of cases in the supine position, and surgical procedure is known, it is simple to decide upon the position the patient during operation.
The main factor for deciding upon the position on the operating table is the need to assure an easy surgical access to the anatomic location of the procedure.
But positioning is sometimes accompanied by complications and most of them are related to nerve injuries.
About 15% of anesthetic malpractice claims in the USA refer to nerve injury during operation [1].
There are two main problems related to nerve injuries during surgery and anesthesia.
First is the fact that in most cases the anesthetized patient is unable to complain about pressure or lack of comfort on his or her limbs.
But the worrying aspect of nerve injury during surgery is that it may occur even when all the precautions have
been taken and the impression is that nothing has been left in order to assure a smooth surgical and anesthetic act. [More]
Sharing Responsibility Does Not Always Make Things Easier
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