EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN THE OPERATING THEATRE

1. Cardiac Arrest

1.1 In the Anaesthetic Room

1.1.1 The anaesthetic nurse will call for help when instructed to do so by the anaesthetist, but not before.

1.1.2 Help will be obtained by ringing the operating theatre reception on 55703 and stating "cardiac arrest in anaesthetic room number ....."

1.1.3 On the alarm being given, staff will respond as in (1.4).

1.2 In the Operating Room

1.2.1. The scout nurse will call for help when instructed to do so by the anaesthetist, but not before.

1.2.2 Help will be obtained by ringing the operating theatre reception on 55703 and stating "cardiac arrest in anaesthetic room number ......"

1.2.3 On alarm having been given, staff will respond as in (1.4).

1.3 In the Recovery Room

1.3.1 The attending nurse will initiate CPR and call for help.

1.3.2 Help will be obtained by ringing the operating theatre reception on 55703 and stating "cardiac arrest in anaesthetic room number ......".

1.3.3 Other nursing staff who can do so will come to the assistance of the attending nurse.

1.3.4 The senior nurse in the CPR team will take charge of resuscitation until the arrival of the medical staff.

1.3.5 The first anaesthetist of senior status to arrive will assume control of resuscitation until the arrival of the consultant anaesthetist who gave the patient's anaesthetic.

1.3.6 Resuscitation procedure will be carried out in accordance with recovery room "Standing Orders"

1.4 Response to Cardiac Arrest Alarm

1.4.1 All anaesthetic staff in the operating suite, including nurses, shall respond to the alarm if able to do so without jeopardising the welfare of the patients under their care.

1.4.2 Having done so, they should participate in CPR under the direction of the senior anaesthetist present if required and, if not, return to their other duties.

1.4.3 Anaesthetic staff in the Department at the time of the alarm should respond only to calls from Recovery Room.

2. Other Emergencies

2.1 The system, as used for cardiac arrest, may be used for other emergencies requiring crisis intervention.

2.2 The procedure in non-arrest emergencies (e.g. Anaesthetist collapsed, intubation difficulty etc.) is the same as for cardiac arrest except that the words to be used are :-

"...Emergency in ...... (location.."