Head Injuries Are a Growing Risk for Anesthesiologists, Experts Warn

Posted April 27, 2025

Head Injuries Are a Growing Risk for Anesthesiologists, Experts Warn

SUNDAY, April 27, 2025 (HealthDay News) — One moment, Dr. Cornelius Sullivan was standing over a patient during surgery. The next, he woke up in an ambulance on the way to the emergency room.

The anesthesiologist had hit his head on a monitor that had been moved behind him at a surgery center — a serious accident that landed him in the hospital for two nights and kept him out of work for weeks.

Sadly, this wasn't the first time. Sullivan has suffered three head injuries while working, according to a news release from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

These injuries, often called "boom strikes," happen when anesthesiologists bump into operating room (OR) equipment on fixed or moveable arms (booms) such as monitors, lights or screens.

While any OR staff member can get hurt this way, anesthesiologists are especially at risk because they work in tight spaces and often need to move quickly during emergencies.

As more advanced equipment is added to ORs and more surgeries are done in smaller spaces, these injuries are becoming more common.

In fact, a survey by the ASA found that more than half of anesthesiologists reported having had at least one work-related injury, including head injuries.

In response, the ASA released a new Statement on Anesthesiologist Head Injuries in Anesthetizing Locations.

The statement recognizes these boom strikes as a serious risk and a potential medical emergency — especially dangerous during outpatient procedures or at times when another anesthesiologist may not be nearby to take over patient care.

Dr. Mary Ann Vann, chair of ASA's Ad Hoc Committee on the Physical Demands of Anesthesiologists, also suffered a head injury while working.

She helped develop the new guidelines, which recommend several steps to improve safety: