United States: Dr. Cornelius Sullivan found himself above a patient during a surgical operation when he slipped away. The next instant, he found himself inside an ambulance that was transporting him to the emergency room.
An anesthesiologist struck his head on a monitor that surgeons had placed behind him in a surgical facility, which led to hospital admission for two nights, followed by weeks of work restrictions.
More about the news
Such events marked his third workplace head injury. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) released news that shows Sullivan has incurred three head injuries during work placements.
Operating room (OR) equipment situated on movable or stationary booms, known as monitors, lights, and screens, can cause “boom strikes” to anesthesiologists, which result in these injuries.
The risk of accidents during OR work remains high for all staff members, yet anesthesiologists stand at heightened risk since their working environment does not provide ample space for movement.
More #anesthesiologists are suffering #headinjuries from operating room equipment, posing serious risks to patients, a new report from the American Society of Anesthesiologists shows. https://t.co/3WU5eOcdgk
— HealthDay News (@HealthDayTweets) April 27, 2025
ORs and their smaller surgical spaces continue to receive upgraded equipment, which leads to increased incidents of related injuries.
New ASA Guidelines
ASA research identified that head injuries and other occupational injuries were experienced by a significant percentage of anesthesiologists, according to their survey results.
ASA has established a new Statement on Anesthesiologist Head Injuries in Anesthetizing Locations to address the situation.
According to this statement, any head injury caused by a boom strike presents a severe danger to patient safety in situations where expert medical care is unavailable or when anesthesia care is performed outside hospital facilities.
Anesthesia is critical for patient comfort during procedures, but when administered incorrectly, it can lead to serious #malpractice claims. Improper dosing or #negligence can result in life-threatening complications. Learn more: https://t.co/elXK08xqRO | #AnesthesiaMalpractice pic.twitter.com/MsWOY9rHGH
— Lopez McHugh (@LopezMcHugh) April 22, 2025
Dr. Mary Ann Vann serves as the chairperson for ASA’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Physical Demands of Anesthesiologists before experiencing a head injury at work.
She worked on developing the new guidelines, recommending various steps to improve safety:
- Keeping regular safety sessions with staff operating in OR facilities
- Safety teams need to be developed specifically to examine reports on booms hitting personnel.
- Clinical anesthesia staff members must participate in designing and planning procedure rooms
- Tracking all head injuries helps identify both sources of injury and patient results.