[Is a preanesthetic interview by a team including nurses effective, safe, and efficient?]. / Es eficaz, segura y eficiente una consulta preanestésica en equipo con enfermería?

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness, safety, and performance of anesthetist-led preanesthetic interviews in which specifically trained nurses exercise defined roles under supervision. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study analyzed preanesthetic interviews performed by a team of anesthesiologists and nurses in surgically treated patients over a 1-year period. We assessed the impact of those interviews on the rate of procedures canceled due to errors in presurgical assessment. Study variables were the percentage of procedures canceled due to failure of presurgical assessment and the difference in the cancellation rate according to whether the interviews were undertaken by anesthesiologists or nurses, number of preanesthetic assessments made by nurses; number of consultations made by nurses to anesthesiologists, number of patients referred for a second interview with an anesthesiologist after assessment by a nurse, rate of substitution by nurses of anesthesiologists, and time dedicated daily by anesthesiologists responding to nurses' consultations. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 7343 preoperative assessments were performed. Of those, 28.6% were undertaken by nurses. Surgery was canceled because of errors in presurgical assessment in 78 cases (1.06%), corresponding to 1.0% of the preoperative evaluations performed by anesthesiologists and 0.7% of those performed by nurses. In 317 (18.2%) nurse-led preoperative assessments the anesthesiologist was consulted, and in another 121 cases (6.9%) a second preanesthetic interview was required. The rate of substitution of anesthesiologists by nursing staff was 26.5% and the time anesthesiologists dedicated daily to consultation during nurse-led assessments was 17.7 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The involvement of nurses in preanesthesia assessments of surgical patients is a clinically safe and effective initiative.

¿Es eficaz, segura y eficiente una consulta preanestésica en equipo con enfermería? / Is a preanesthetic interview by a team including nurses effective, safe, and efficient?

OBJETIVO: Analizar la eficacia, seguridad y rendimientode una consulta preanestésica, liderada por anestesiólogos,en la que participa, por delegación de funciones, supervisaday previo entrenamiento específico enfermería.MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo de las evaluacionespreanestésicas de pacientes sometidos a intervencionesquirúrgicas durante el período de un año porun equipo compuesto por anestesiólogos (CAnest) y enfermería(CEnfAnest) y su impacto sobre el índice de suspensionesquirúrgicas por fallo del Circuito Preoperatorio(CP). Variables del estudio: Porcentaje de suspensionesquirúrgicas por fallo del CP; relación de las mismas conCAnest y CEnfAnest. Número de evaluaciones preanestésicasrealizadas por enfermería, número de consultas desdeCEnfAnest a CAnest, número de pacientes derivadoscomo segunda visita a CAnest tras visita en CEnfAnest,índice de sustitución (IS) de CEnfAnest, tiempo del anestesiólogodedicado diariamente a las consultas de CEnfAnest(TAnest). Estudio estadístico: estadística descriptiva.RESULTADOS: Total de evaluaciones preoperatorias:7.343. El 28,6% de las mismas fueron realizadas porCEnfAnest. Suspensiones quirúrgicas por fallo del CP:78 casos (1,06%); correspondieron al 1% de las evaluacionespreoperatorias realizadas en CAnest y al 0,7% delas realizadas en CEnfAnest. En 317 (18,2%) evaluacionespreoperatorias de CEnfAnest se consultó al anestesiólogoy en otros 121 casos (6,9%) se requirió nuevavisita preanestésica. El IS de CEnfAnest fue del 26,5%;el TAnest de 17,7 minutos.CONCLUSIONES: La participación de enfermería en lasvaloraciones preanestésicas de los pacientes quirúrgicoses una iniciativa eficaz y segura desde el punto de vistaclínico

OBJETIVE: To analyze the effectiveness, safety, and performance of anesthetist-led preanesthetic interviews in which specifically trained nurses exercise defined roles under supervision. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study analyzed preanesthetic interviews performed by a team of anesthesiologists and nurses in surgically treated patients over a 1-year period. We assessed the impact of those interviews on the rate of procedures canceled due to errors in presurgical assessment. Study variables were the percentage of procedures canceled due to failure of presurgical assessment and the difference in the cancellation rate according to whether the interviews were undertaken by anesthesiologists or nurses, number of preanesthetic assessments made by nurses; number of consultations made by nurses to anesthesiologists, number of patients referred for a second interview with an anesthesiologist after assessment by a nurse, rate of substitution by nurses of anesthesiologists, and time dedicated daily by anesthesiologists responding to nurses’ consultations. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 7343 preoperative assessments were performed. Of those, 28.6% were undertaken by nurses. Surgery was canceled because of errors in presurgical assessment in 78 cases (1.06%), corresponding to 1.0% of the preoperative evaluations performed by anesthesiologists and 0.7% of those performed by nurses. In 317 (18.2%) nurse-led preoperative assessments the anesthesiologist was consulted, and in another 121 cases (6.9%) a second preanesthetic interview was required. The rate of substitution of anesthesiologists by nursing staff was 26.5% and the time anesthesiologists dedicated daily to consultation during nurse-led assessments was 17.7 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The involvement of nurses in preanesthesia assessments of surgical patients is a clinically safe and effective initiative