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Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)

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Submitted
January 23, 2026
Published
December 31, 2024

Copyright (c) 2024 Norah Mohammed Sadly, Wafa Saeed Aldosari, Eman Alhumidi AlEnazi, Maged Ahmed Ali AbuAlghith, Ali Saleh M Saied, Aboud Jound Ageel Abuieisha, Bandar Mohsen Ahmed Alamri, Saud Daifallah Darraj, Mohammad Hossain Aldoseri, Ali Khudhyr Alyami, Yousef Jamman Alharbi, Abdulrahman Abdulla Ali Al-Dosary, Mansour Sultan Mohammed Alghamwi

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The Management of Anesthesia-Related Drug Shortages: A Systems-Level Crisis Response

https://doi.org/10.64483/202412583
Norah Mohammed Sadly
King Saud Medical City – Riyadh,Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Wafa Saeed Aldosari
King Saud Medical City – Riyadh,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Eman Alhumidi AlEnazi
King Saud Medical City – Riyadh,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Maged Ahmed Ali AbuAlghith
Primary Health Care Center – Hakamah Abu Arish,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Ali Saleh M Saied
Jizan Forensic Medical Services Center,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Aboud Jound Ageel Abuieisha
Jizan Forensic Medical Services Center,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Bandar Mohsen Ahmed Alamri
Jizan Forensic Medical Services Center,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Saud Daifallah Darraj
Abu Arish General Hospital,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Hossain Aldoseri
Wadi Dawaser General Hospital,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Ali Khudhyr Alyami
King Fahd Medical City,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Yousef Jamman Alharbi
Imam Abdulrahman Al Faisal Hospital – Riyadh,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Abdulrahman Abdulla Ali Al-Dosary
Wadi Dawaser General Hospital,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia
Mansour Sultan Mohammed Alghamwi
South Al-Qunfudhah Hospital – Al-Qunfudhah,Ministry of Health , Saudi Arabia

Corresponding Author(s) : Norah Mohammed Sadly

nsadliy@hotmail.com

Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)

Abstract

Background: Anesthesia-related drug shortages pose a significant threat to global healthcare, impacting patient safety and surgical outcomes. Shortages of essential drugs, such as propofol and opioids, force clinicians to use unfamiliar alternatives and adjust protocols. These shortages result from complex supply chain issues, including manufacturing quality problems and material scarcities. Aim: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from 2010 to 2024 on interdisciplinary, systems-level strategies for mitigating the impact of anesthesia drug shortages. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and regulatory agency databases was conducted. Results: Evidence indicates that effective management requires a tiered, team-based approach. Pharmacy must lead supply chain surveillance and develop evidence-based substitution protocols. Anesthesia must adapt clinical techniques, employing multi-modal analgesia and regional anesthesia to reduce reliance on scarce agents. Nursing is critical for patient monitoring, education, and ensuring continuity of adapted care plans. Successful institutional responses are characterized by centralized drug shortage committees, real-time communication, and simulation training for crisis scenarios. Conclusion: Anesthesia drug shortages are not transient disruptions but endemic features of modern healthcare. Mitigating their impact requires moving from ad-hoc, reactive responses to embedded, interdisciplinary preparedness plans that prioritize patient safety through shared stewardship, protocolized adaptation, and transparent communication across the perioperative team.

Keywords

drug shortages, anesthesia, supply chain management, patient safety, interdisciplinary teams
Sadly, N. M., Wafa Saeed Aldosari, Eman Alhumidi AlEnazi, Maged Ahmed Ali AbuAlghith, Ali Saleh M Saied, Aboud Jound Ageel Abuieisha, … Mansour Sultan Mohammed Alghamwi. (2024). The Management of Anesthesia-Related Drug Shortages: A Systems-Level Crisis Response. Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 1(2), 2072–2078. https://doi.org/10.64483/202412583
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