Read the latest letters submitted by members in October's Bulletin.
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Author: Dr Carolyn Johnston, Consultant Anaesthetist and Deputy Medical Director, St George’s Hospital; Chair of QI working group
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK government talked about their goal of delivering ‘shots in arms’ as the ultimate goal of the vaccine efforts. This wasn’t an exercise in expanding scientific knowledge or customising production, but the aim was clearly stated as being to deliver those advances to citizens in order to prevent them from becoming patients.
A large number of lives were saved by rapid development and national deployment of the new vaccines: the success of the vaccine programme is a reminder to us all how knowledge without application will not improve care.
The HSRC portfolio of projects creates a huge amount of knowledge that has the potential to improve care for our patients, but this knowledge remains potential unless we implement the recommendations of the various reports and use the rich datasets created to inform us of the most pressing areas for improvement in our clinical pathways.
‘Who still uses succinylcholine?’ would be the first thought that comes to your mind on reading the title. But I am sure some of the experienced anaesthetists still have a soft corner and an emotional bond towards this wonderful short-and swift-acting champion.
I take this opportunity to share my experience with succinylcholine, which happened when I was new to the UK and trying to find my feet.
A 16-year-old boy presented to A&E with torsion testis and was posted for urgent surgical repair in the CEPOD theatre. Within the limited time available, I had taken a brief history and nothing was significant in it. He had never been exposed to anaesthesia in the past, and his parents had undergone general anaesthesia in the past but had no issues. He had food two hours before coming to the hospital.