Anesthesiology is often described as “hours of boredom, interspersed by moments of sheer terror.” Yet it is precisely these moments of terror that define our role. When a crisis does happen, we often are left without a textbook formula for handling every single crisis. This is why a general approach to crisis resource management, leadership and communication should be an important aspect of anesthesia resident education.
Our training will inevitably leave gaps in our ability to deal with crises in the O.R. Simply put, no training program will perfectly train an individual to deal with every situation that could arise. When a crisis occurs, it is important to bring order from chaos, take command of the situation, know how to get things done and make sure tasks are completed.1
There are some extensively analyzed strategies that improve safety in times of crisis, some of which are utilized in other...