For example, a liposuction technique has been developed using large amounts of dilute local anesthetics injected under the skin. If the drug is absorbed rapidly or too high a concentration of drug is used, then toxicity may result. Several deaths have been described from this problem recently. A check-out list is to be followed by the practitioner prior to using the machine. This check-out will detect most every problem with the machine.
Modern anesthesia is more than administration of drugs.
The anesthesiologist must anticipate and react to changes induced by surgery and be familiar with changes that occur in the response to drugs in sick patients. Extensive training is required of anesthesia providers, be they nurse anesthetists, anesthesia assistants or anesthesiologists. Attention and vigilance is required in even the most straightforward cases, because unanticipated problems may happen at any moment. Fatigue, stress, lack of sleep may slow responses to critical events. The role of such human factors in anesthesia mishaps is poorly understood.