Chapter 16

Iatrogenic Pathology in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care

Leonard Azamfirei and Iudita Badea

Abstract

The iatrogenic pathology occurring in anesthesiology and intensive care is a consequence of errors made due to ignorance (the incapacity to identify suddenly appearing pathological situations), negligence (deficiencies in applying correct medical conduct) or clinical misjudgment. In the field of anesthesiology, this type of pathology comprises complications in pre-anesthetic, anesthetic and post-anesthetic periods, the consequences of pharmacological effects of the administered anesthetic drugs, technical complications related to airway security, anesthetic machine functioning and monitoring equipment, the anesthetic technique utilized and the differing reactivity of patients to the chosen anesthetic procedure. In intensive care, regarding critical care patients with multiple organ dysfunctions, the main source of iatrogenesis is represented by invasive maneuvers (mechanical ventilation techniques, monitoring, vascular approaches). To all these are added complications related to administered drugs, artificial nutrition, volemic therapy and the high risk of infection.

Total Pages: 253-269 (17)

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