Normal practice or unsafe practice?

[DrOwnage]

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The past 10 years I've been practicing (including residency) it's been perfectly acceptable for me to run out of the room to grab meds that aren't stocked in the OR Pyxis, from the central Pyxis (albumin, precedex, ketamine, calcium). Recently someone thought it was unsafe and complained. Among my inner circle of colleagues it seems to be a regular, safe and accepted practice as long as you let the circulator (busy) know, and are close by. Obviously at the right time, stable patient, no risky parts of the procedure. What is your opinion?

 

[JOHNBROCHILL]

That's not a problem. I've stepped out to grab different lead, different chair, to use the bathroom if no one is available to come in. As you said right patient and right time. My buddy was interviewing somewhere and the guy left his patient alone to give him a tour of the OR. Now that one was a bit much.

 

[cittykat]

Likely much more common in physician only practices.

 

[ucladoc2b]

Stable patient? I will leave briefly. But only for the least amount of time possible.

I mean, we step out of the room all the time for CArm, O arm, radiation treatment and other reasons.

 

[NICMAN]

Make the circulator get your drugs. They do that for the surgeon.

 

[Lab Lover]

Not unsafe. Might be a problem if someone wants to use it against you in peer review or your employer wants a reason to discipline you.

 

[coolforschool]

I’ve never done it but don’t blame others for doing it. I’ll usually ask the circulators to grab whatever’s needed. Some of my partners regularly do it for their morning break/lunch, but nobody does it egregiously.

Agree it’s probably safe but can be used against you with the wrong people in the OR (including surgeons).

 

[coffeebythelake]

It's fine to do during a GA case with stable portion of case. Keep it as brief as possible and only under circumstances where there isn't a good alternative

 

[cittykat]

The past 10 years I've been practicing (including residency) it's been perfectly acceptable for me to run out of the room to grab meds that aren't stocked in the OR Pyxis, from the central Pyxis (albumin, precedex, ketamine, calcium). Recently someone thought it was unsafe and complained. Among my inner circle of colleagues it seems to be a regular, safe and accepted practice as long as you let the circulator (busy) know, and are close by. Obviously at the right time, stable patient, no risky parts of the procedure. What is your opinion?

Another solution is to stock those commonly used drugs in the OR Pyxis. More work for pharmacy, I know, but it’s their job. We stock ketamine, calcium, and precedex in the OR. Less running around. Pharmacy doesn’t like us to use albumin so it’s in the central Pyxis.

 

[PpfSuxTube]

Its 100% safe but also frowned upon and would 100% not be defendable. Sorta like using your phone while driving. Never do it around the wrong ppl...

 

[sevoflurane]

I personally never do that. That’s a circulators job. Not too different from a circulator that is getting mesh for a hernia mid case.
That being said, I wouldn’t look down on any of my partners if/when they do that.