Datuk Dr. Radha Krishna Sabapathy,
Committee Member,
OT Subcommittee,
Subang Jaya Medical Centre.
26 January, 2000.
Dato’ Dr. Charles David,
Chairman,
OT Subcommittee,
Subang Jaya Medical Centre.
Dear Dato’ Dr. David,
After discussion among the Consultant Anaesthetists from Subang Jaya Medical Centre, we would like to introduce the enclosed handout/guideline. The handout is based on the recommendations of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and also those of the Chapter of Anaesthesiologists in the Academy of Medicine, Malaysia and has been agreed upon by all of us.
The aim is to reduce the instances of patients, scheduled for elective procedures, coming to the Operating Theatres will a full or potentially full stomach. In the absence of written instructions, patients often either forget or misunderstand the verbal instructions given to them and it is hoped that this handout will go a long way towards reducing such problems.
The handout should be given to all patients who have been scheduled for elective procedures requiring general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia or sedation/analgesia. In the case of minors or patients who are illiterate o-r who are likely to be non-compliant, the handout should be given to their guardians or any responsible adult helping to look after the patient.
This handout may also be used for patients scheduled for elective Caesarean operations.
It should not be used for patients undergoing emergency procedures.
Translations of the handout in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil will be made available.
Immediately after the patient has been booked for a procedure, the handout should be given to the patient or, where appropriate, his or her representative as listed above. The instructions in the handout should be reinforced by verbal instructions from the surgeon or his assistant.
If the patient is likely to require an elective procedure done but an exact time and date has not been fixed, the handout should, nonetheless, be given to the patient, again reinforced by verbal instructions.
The handout should be made freely available in the outpatient clinics, diagnostic centres, daycare centres, emergency room, admission counters, wards and operating theatres.
We would like to submit the enclosed handout for the consideration of the OT Subcommittee and if agreeable for its implementation as soon as possible.
If you require further clarification, please feel free to contact either Dr. Ngun Kok Wah or myself.
Yours truly,
Datuk Dr. Radha Krishna
Sabapathy.
Consultant Anaesthetist,
Subang Jaya Medical Centre.