How often do anaesthetists get the dose wrong, and what is the result?

When it comes to ordering blood during surgery, the responsibility typically falls on the surgeon. The nurse anaesthetist can be involved in this process as well, depending on their scope of practice and level of involvement. Generally speaking, the anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) will provide input and guidance to ensure that the proper amount of blood is ordered for each individual patient.

Studies have shown that when anesthesia providers make mistakes with dosing medications or ordering blood, such errors are usually due to human factors rather than technical issues. This means that these errors tend to be caused by carelessness, fatigue, distractions and other circumstances beyond anyone’s control. In some cases, incorrect doses can lead to serious harm or even death; however, according to research published by Anesthesia & Analgesia in 2017: “Anesthetic-related major morbidity occurs at a rate of approximately 1 case per 200–250 anesthetics administered."

In summary, while it is ultimately the responsibility of both the surgeon and nurse anaesthetist (or anesthesiologist) to ensure accurate orders for blood during surgery operations – dosages are rarely off enough by design so as to cause any serious complications in patients; which speaks volumes about how highly skilled these medical professionals must be!