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Correspondence| Volume 53, 103617, February 2023

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A national survey on the availability of prefilled medication syringes and medication errors in maternity units across the United Kingdom

Published:December 07, 2022DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijoa.2022.103617
A national survey on the availability of prefilled medication syringes and medication errors in maternity units across the United Kingdom
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      The rate of medication error is estimated to be 1 in (0.8%) 133 anaesthetics, although recent studies highlight peri-operative medication errors ranging in incidence from 2.6% to 5.3%.
      • Webster C.S.
      • Merry A.F.
      • Larsson L.
      • McGrath K.A.
      • Weller J.
      The frequency and nature of drug administration error during anaesthesia.
      Anaesth Intens Care Med. 2001; 29: 494-500https://doi.org/10.1177/0310057x0102900508
      , 
      • Gariel C.
      • Cogniat B.
      • Desgranges F.-P.
      • Chassard D.
      • Bouvet L.
      Incidence, characteristics, and predictive factors for medication errors in paediatric anaesthesia: a prospective incident monitoring study.
      Br J Anaesth. 2018; 120: 563-570https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2018.01.005
      , 
      • Nanji K.C.
      • Patel A.
      • Shaikh S.
      • Seger D.L.
      • Bates D.W.
      Evaluation of perioperative medication errors and adverse drug events.
      Anesthesiology. 2016; 124: 25-34https://doi.org/10.1097/aln.0000000000000904
      Nearly a third of medication errors result in an adverse drug event and these increase patient morbidity and healthcare costs.
      • Nanji K.C.
      • Patel A.
      • Shaikh S.
      • Seger D.L.
      • Bates D.W.
      Evaluation of perioperative medication errors and adverse drug events.
      Anesthesiology. 2016; 124: 25-34https://doi.org/10.1097/aln.0000000000000904
      Prefilled medication syringes minimise medication errors made by anaesthetists while transferring and diluting drug from vial to syringe.
      • Litman R.S.
      How to prevent medication errors in the operating room? Take away the human factor.
      Br J Anaesth. 2018; 120: 438e-440ehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2017.12.001
      Multiple societies, including the Royal College of Anaesthetists, recommend the use of prefilled medication syringes if feasible.

      The Royal College of Anaesthetists. Guidelines for the Provision of Anaesthesia Services for an Obstetric Population. 2020. Available from: https://rcoa.ac.uk/gpas/chapter-9#chapter-7. Accessed September 5, 2022.

      , 

      Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Professional guidance on the safe and secure handling of medicines 2018. Available from: https://www.rpharms.com/recognition/setting-professional-standards/safe-and-secure-handling-of-medicines/professional-guidance-on-the-safe-and-secure-handling-of-medicines. Accessed September 5, 2022.

      There is a paucity of information about the availability of prefilled medication syringes in maternity units across the United Kingdom (UK).

      Keywords

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      References

        • Webster C.S.
        • Merry A.F.
        • Larsson L.
        • McGrath K.A.
        • Weller J.
        The frequency and nature of drug administration error during anaesthesia.
        Anaesth Intens Care Med. 2001; 29: 494-500https://doi.org/10.1177/0310057x0102900508
        View in Article
        • Gariel C.
        • Cogniat B.
        • Desgranges F.-P.
        • Chassard D.
        • Bouvet L.
        Incidence, characteristics, and predictive factors for medication errors in paediatric anaesthesia: a prospective incident monitoring study.
        Br J Anaesth. 2018; 120: 563-570https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2018.01.005
        View in Article
        • Nanji K.C.
        • Patel A.
        • Shaikh S.
        • Seger D.L.
        • Bates D.W.
        Evaluation of perioperative medication errors and adverse drug events.
        Anesthesiology. 2016; 124: 25-34https://doi.org/10.1097/aln.0000000000000904
        View in Article
        • Litman R.S.
        How to prevent medication errors in the operating room? Take away the human factor.
        Br J Anaesth. 2018; 120: 438e-440ehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2017.12.001
        View in Article

      5. The Royal College of Anaesthetists. Guidelines for the Provision of Anaesthesia Services for an Obstetric Population. 2020. Available from: https://rcoa.ac.uk/gpas/chapter-9#chapter-7. Accessed September 5, 2022.

        View in Article

      6. Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Professional guidance on the safe and secure handling of medicines 2018. Available from: https://www.rpharms.com/recognition/setting-professional-standards/safe-and-secure-handling-of-medicines/professional-guidance-on-the-safe-and-secure-handling-of-medicines. Accessed September 5, 2022.

        View in Article
        • Yentis S.M.
        • Randall N.
        Drug errors in obstetric anaesthesia: a national survey.
        Int J Obstet Anesth. 2003; 12: 246-249https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-289X(03)00009-8
        View in Article

      8. NHS Resolution. Maternity medication errors 2022. Available from https://resolution.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Did-you-know-leaflet-Maternity-medication-errors_March-2022.pdf. Accessed July 10, 2022.

        View in Article

      Article info

      Publication history

      Published online: December 07, 2022
      Accepted: November 30, 2022

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijoa.2022.103617

      Copyright

      © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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