The Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study) of Anesthesia Personnel Hazard
Aksorn Pulnitiporn MD*, Waraporn Chau-in MD**, Sireeluck Klanarong MD***, Somboon Thienthong MD**, Panjai Inphum MD*
Affiliation : Department of Anesthesiology, *Khon Kaen Regional Hospital, Thailand **Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand ***Buddhachinaraj Regional Hospital, Thailand
Objectives : To determine the incidence, causes, management, outcomes and corrective strategies for personnel
hazard in Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study (THAI Study).
Materials and Methods : Personnel hazard incidents were extracted from the Thai Anesthesia Incidents Study
(THAI Study) database conducted between February 1, 2003 and January 31, 2004 and analysed using
descriptive statistics.
Results : Twenty-four incidents of personnel hazard were recorded. Majority of incidents occurred in nurse
anesthetist (54.2%). Five incidents exposed to patient blood but no infection reported afterwards. Nineteen
incidents (79.2%) were injury without contact to patient s blood or body fluid. Most of them were injured by
broken ampoules. One case needed to leave from work for a while due to hand dysfunction.
Conclusion : Personnel hazard incidence were quite low frequency because of under-report. One case of
morbidity was reported. Universal precaution and post exposure prophylaxis tended to minimize the risk of
infection.
Keywords : Personnal hazard, Anesthesia, Perioperative, Multicenter study, Adverse events
