Should the patient be anaesthetised before “time out” is conducted?
“Time out” is a final confirmation to match the (now identified) patient, procedure, correct site and side with imaging data and the availability of the correct implant or other equipment. As such it should occur immediately before the actual procedure begins. Some health professionals have suggested that the patient should be awake and included during this process, as this input may prevent an unnecessary anaesthetic and its associated risks. However this operative pause should be viewed in the context of a chain of verification steps in which the patient has been actively involved in confirming his/her identity.
