Catastrophic Perioperative Complications and Management

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XII

   PDF

2. Sleep Apnea

   • J. Arthur Saus, Katelyn R. Hopper, Barron J. O’Neal Jr.

   Pages 1-17

3. Postoperative Visual Loss: Anatomy, Pathogenesis, and Anesthesia Considerations

   • Andrew J. Brunk, Ken P. Ehrhardt Jr, Jeremy B. Green, Susie M. Mothersele, Alan David Kaye

   Pages 19-29

4. Substance Abuse

   • Elyse M. Cornett, Rebecca A. Moreci, Nadejda Korneeva, Mark R. Jones

   Pages 31-44

5. Awareness

   • Tomas Carvajal, Lopa Misra, Michael Molloy, Veerandra Koyyalamudi

   Pages 45-59

6. Shared Airway: Techniques, Anesthesia Considerations, and Implications

   • Jennifer E. Woerner, Andrew T. Meram, Spencer Armuth

   Pages 61-81

7. Dental Injury: Anatomy, Pathogenesis, and Anesthesia Considerations and Implications

   • G. E. Ghali, Andrew T. Meram, Blake C. Garrett

   Pages 83-94

8. Complications of General Anesthesia

   • Jeffrey P. Cardinale, Nigel Gillespie, Liane Germond

   Pages 95-103

9. Pain Management

   • Michael Franklin, J. Arthur Saus, Yury Rapoport, Nicholas Darensburg

   Pages 105-119

10. Regional Anesthesia/MAC

    • Treniece Eubanks, Yury Rapoport, Leslie Robichaux, Farees S. Hyatali, Tomasina Parker-Actlis

    Pages 121-131

11. Massive Perioperative Hemorrhage: Considerations in Clinical Management

    • Usama Iqbal, Jaime Sanders, Longqiu Yang, Mingqiang Li, Marcus Zebrower, Henry Liu

    Pages 133-149

12. Cardiovascular System Damaging Events

    • J. Arthur Saus, Harish Siddaiah, Farees S. Hyatali

    Pages 151-159

13. Airway and Respiratory System Damaging Events

    • Evangelyn Okereke, Shilpadevi Patil, Gregory Allred

    Pages 161-176

14. Burns in the Operating Room

    • Kraig S. de Lanzac, Joseph R. Koveleskie

    Pages 177-195

15. Eye Injury

    • Chizoba N. Mosieri, Mary E. Arthur

    Pages 197-211

16. Severe Peripheral Nerve Injury

    • Rayhan Tariq, S. Nini Malayaman, Hong Yan, Usama Iqbal, Mingqiang Li, Marcus Zebrower et al.

    Pages 213-225

17. Catastrophic Perioperative Complications and Management in the Trauma Patient

    • Elyse M. Cornett, Matthew B. Novitch, Julia B. Kendrick, Jennifer M. Kaiser, Patricia D. Toro-Perez, Alex B. Shulman et al.

    Pages 227-244

18. Obstetrics

    • R. Edward Betcher, Karen Berken

    Pages 245-260

19. Catastrophic Complications in Pediatric Anesthesiology

    • Sonja A. Gennuso, Brendon M. Hart, Hiroki Komoto, Tomasina Parker-Actlis

    Pages 261-274

20. Ambulatory and Office-Based Surgery

    • Joshua E. Dibble, Arthur L. Calimaran

    Pages 275-285

For years the administrative of anesthesia was extremely dangerous and risky. Because of this the surgeon and anesthesiologist had to balance the risks and benefits for each patient before proceeding with surgery. In the last two decades the care of the surgical patient has changed dramatically. New equipment, monitors and pharmacologic agents have transformed surgical technique and improved outcomes. Patients once deemed “too sick” for the operating room are found frequently on operating room schedules nationwide. 


Today, anesthesiology for the healthy patient in most developed countries is extremely safe.  However, perioperative complications still occur. These events can be catastrophic for patients and may have serious implications for residents, surgical and anesthesiology staff and nurses. Prompt recognition and management of these incidents may reduce or negate complications. This is based on a fundamental base of knowledge acquired through several avenues and practiced with other team members to maximize outcomes.  Engagement of all caregivers impacts outcomes. Many organizations do not have the structural components or education to recognize or manage these catastrophic events. 


This textbook will provide educational material for the many students, as well as nurses, residents or attending physicians who participate in perioperative medicine. It will focus on the most serious perioperative complications and include a discussion of the pathophysiologic and pharmacologic implications unique to each. Additionally, it will provide medicolegal information pertinent to those providing care to these patients. All chapters will be written with the most current and relevant information by leading experts in each field.The layout and format is designed to be purposeful, logical and visually effective. Other features include review questions and answers, chapter summaries and shaded call-out boxes to facilitate learning.


Catastrophic Perioperative Complications and Management will be of great utility for medical and nursing students, anesthesiology residents, student nurse anesthestists, surgical residents, nurses involved in perioperative medicine as well as surgical and anesthesiology attending physicians. 

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• General Anesthesia
• Monitored Anesthesia Care
• Hemorrhage
• Eye Injury
• Physiologic Monitoring
• Medical Legal Complications

“The book is intended for residency but also for all involved in perioperative medicine to increase awareness and competence in a concise manner. In my opinion, the textbook serves well as a quick refresher for anesthesiologists of all ages. … I recommend the book to all who are eager to practice well and who need a good context for a comprehensive understanding of catastrophic perioperative complications and how to manage them.” (Sigridur H. Kalman, Anesthesia & Analgesia, Vol. 130 (6), June, 2020)


“The book can be a valuable resource for anesthesia residents, SRNAs, CRNAs, or anesthesiologists. … The chapters are well organized, convey the right amount of information about the complication and its management, use diagrams, tables, or boxed points to better explain or emphasize learning points, and end with review questions to assess what was retained.” (Kevin R Bauereis, Doody's Book Reviews, July 05, 2019)

• Department of Anesthesiology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, USA

  Charles J. Fox, III, Elyse M. Cornett

• Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Head and Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – Shreveport, Shreveport, USA

  G. E. Ghali

Charles J. Fox, III, MD
Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs
President of the Faculty Group Practice
Professor and Chairman
Department of Anesthesiology
LSU Health Shreveport
Shreveport, LA 



Elyse M. Cornett, PhD
Assistant Professor
Director of Research
Department of Anesthesiology
LSU Health Shreveport
Shreveport, LA


G. E. Ghali, DDS, MD, FACS, FRCS(Ed)Chancellor
Gamble Professor & Chairman
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
LSU Health Shreveport
Shreveport, LA

Policies and ethics